Yahoo News Lewis Hamilton seeks forgiveness after mocking his nephew for wearing a dress
Lewis Hamilton has apologised after posting a video to social media where he mocked his nephew for wearing a dress.
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In the Instagram video, which has since been deleted, the Formula 1 driver is reported to have pointed the camera to his nephew who was wearing a pink and purple dress and holding a wand.
"I'm so sad right now. Look at my nephew," he says, and then proceeds to ask the boy, "Why are you wearing a princess dress? Is this what you got for Christmas? Why did you ask for a princess dress for Christmas? Boys don't wear princess dresses."
People on Twitter were quick to criticise the post and explained the damaging subtext of Hamilton's remarks.
I hope @LewisHamilton properly thinks and apologises to his nephew for that video. Thinks about why it is so horrible, and considers donating to a charity which supports LGBT youth. That video is a video so many of us have experienced. Gross. It sticks with you
— Travis (@travisalabanza) December 26, 2017
So impressed by whoever bought that lovely little kid such an awesome princess dress. So horrified and distressed by Lewis Hamilton’s abusive and toxic reaction. And sharing it with the world? Vile.
— James Rhodes (@JRhodesPianist) December 26, 2017
watching the lewis hamilton vid actually excruciating, that little boy was me at that age, and all i ever heard was grown men like hamilton shouting at me for it. now 18 years on i'm still so conscious of how i behave & present in front of masculine performing men FUCK THAT
— jakk (@jakkhayes) December 26, 2017
Imraan Sathar, of the LGBT and non-binary support group Stay Brave UK, called for Hamilton to be stripped of his MBE.
I feel sorry for @LewisHamilton - what a vile upbringing and awful people surrounding him since that made him think that was an appropriate thing to say to a child who was just living their best life. Strip him of that MBE. @MercedesAMG your brand is tarnished.
— Imraan Sathar (@imy) December 26, 2017
Liam Hackett, CEO of the anti-bullying charity Ditch The Label, said it was "disappointing to see somebody with such a huge platform use it to publicly shame and attempt to undermine a child."
Disappointing to see somebody with such a huge platform use it to publicly shame and attempt to undermine a small child. https://t.co/O8FarLhAE8
— Liam Hackett (@DiageoLiam) December 26, 2017
Hamilton has deleted the video and written a series of tweets asking for forgiveness:
Yesterday I was playing around with my nephew and realised that my words were inappropriate so I removed the post. I meant no harm and did not mean to offend anyone at all. I love that my nephew feels free to express himself as we all should.
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) December 26, 2017
My deepest apologies for my behaviour as I realise it is really not acceptable for anyone, no matter where you are from, to marginalise or stereotype anyone.
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) December 26, 2017
I have always been in support of anyone living their life exactly how they wish and I hope I can be forgiven for this lapse in judgement.
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) December 26, 2017
But some people aren't convinced by the sincerity of his words based on the tweets that Hamilton has liked.
What a hollow apology when all you are doing afterwards is liking comments saying you shouldn't have to apologise to the "PC brigade". Shows that you don't mean it at all.
— Sim-Wise (@SimWise) December 27, 2017
So why like all the comments on your thread saying it was all PC nonsense?
— Zoe (@GoZo73) December 27, 2017
Lewis Hamilton's apology may seem more sincere if he hadn't then liked loads of tweets about PC NONSENSE WORLD GONE MAD pic.twitter.com/1Cm30EZpT5
— Terri White (@Terri_White) December 26, 2017
Mashable has reached out to Lewis Hamilton's representative for comment.
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