With Christmas Day having once again come and gone in a flash, many in the Formula 1 community were sharing any F1-themed gifts they’d received on social media, with many having received a LEGO Technic McLaren F1 car!
However, as usually happens at Christmas time, an old controversial social media post by Lewis Hamilton resurfaced, one that he profoundly apologised for at the time.
After losing the 2016 World Championship to former team-mate Nico Rosberg, Hamilton recorded himself on Instagram at Christmas, where he expressed how “sad” he was to see his nephew in a pink princess dress.
“I’m so sad right now. Look at my nephew,” Hamilton posted on Instagram in 2016.
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Hamilton then showed his nephew on camera, before asking him: “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!”
The controversial video quickly caused a storm on social media, with the seven-time World Champion having been condemned by many members of the LGBTQ community, a community that Hamilton supports across the globe nowadays.
“I hope @LewisHamilton properly thinks and apologises to his nephew for that video,” artist Travis Alabanza wrote on social media.
“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.”
A day after posting the video, Hamilton raced to apologise for his actions and his words, which he recognised as having been “inappropriate”.
The 37-year-old quickly took the video down and admitted that he “meant no harm” to anybody.
“Yesterday I was playing around with my nephew and realised that my words were inappropriate so I removed the post,” Hamilton wrote.
“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. My deepest apologies for my behaviour as I realise it is really not acceptable in the world today for anyone, no matter where you are from, to marginalise or stereotype anyone.
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“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 of judgement.”
Since that controversial moment that does resurface every year, Hamilton has gone on to support the LGBTQ community using his remarkable platform.
Hamilton famously wore a rainbow-themed helmet in the Middle East to promote the community, given that same-sex marriage continues to be illegal in the area.