(Photo by FRANK AUGSTEIN/AP)
Lewis Hamilton has apologized for “inappropriate words” he said to his nephew who wore a princess dress for Christmas.
In an Instagram story, the F1 champion tells the boy, “I’m so sad right now. Look at my nephew. 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!”
https://twitter.com/itsPrideUK/status/945701721052991490
Hamilton has faced a backlash from the video, with netizens calling him out on imposing gender norms and perpetuating a culture of “toxic masculinity” and bullying.
https://twitter.com/benjaminbutter/status/945649977329639424
https://twitter.com/MiriamBrett/status/945659145751072770
https://twitter.com/pennygotch/status/945637022630338560
He has since issued an apology via Twitter.
https://twitter.com/LewisHamilton/status/945718243511144448
https://twitter.com/LewisHamilton/status/945718655949602823
https://twitter.com/LewisHamilton/status/945718744680206336
“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.
“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.
“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.”
However, a Twitter user pointed out that the apology might have been insincere as Hamilton had been liking tweets that said he had nothing to apologize for.
Lewis Hamilton’s apology would be more meaningful if he didn’t ‘like’ all the ‘you’ve nothing to apologise for’ replies. We see you sis, we have receipts. pic.twitter.com/UsTW6PxaXv
— Coral DeVille (@CoralDeVille) December 26, 2017
According to Christia Spears Brown, an associate professor at the University of Kentucky, children only start choosing sex-specific toys after they learn about gender, reports The Guardian.
Hamilton has also drawn flak this year after being implicated in the Paradise Papers, which reveal that he has avoided taxes in the use of his private jet. /ra
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