Lewis Hamilton accused of publicly shaming his nephew for wearing 'a princess dress'
Hamilton has since deleted the video, which was posted on Instagram, where he has 5.7 million followers.
Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton is facing a backlash on social media after he posted a video in which he makes fun of his 4-year-old nephew for wearing a princess dress.
"Why are you wearing a princess dress? Is this what you got for Christmas?" Hamilton asks.
As the boy nods, the driving champion continues: "Why did you ask for a princess dress for Christmas?"
"Because it's pretty," his nephew replies, waving a pink wand with a heart on top of it.
"Boys don't wear princess dresses!" says Hamilton.
Hamilton faced criticism for humiliating his nephew and reinforcing gender stereotypes. He has since deleted the video.
People took to Twitter to comment on the event. Some said they felt Hamilton's behaviour displayed the same kind of discrimination people from the LGBT(lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community are subjected to, especially when they are young.
The incident took place months after Hamilton was criticised after the Panama Papers revealed he avoided to pay taxes on his private jet using an Isle of Man scheme, which HM Revenue and Customs later said it would investigate.
Disappointed with this video of Lewis Hamilton! Many of our community have experienced this kind of shaming when we were younger... pic.twitter.com/N1pLW0Kd5h
— Pride in London (@LondonLGBTPride) December 26, 2017
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
lewis hamilton shouts at a little boy for wearing a princess dress. toxic masculinity strikes again ffs. shame he wasnât doing something âmanlyâ like avoiding tax, eh lewis? https://t.co/hqXkIBSAWt
— Ryan John Butcher (@ryanjohnbutcher) December 26, 2017
Lewis Hamilton likes to shout in the faces of kids to make them feel uncomfortable when they express themselves differently.
— Jake Johnstone (@hijakejohnstone) December 26, 2017
Straight into the wood chipper he goes.pic.twitter.com/TMNzCnuWoh
This is horrible. Children should feel safe to be themselves around family, not attacked for it. Lewis Hamilton might want to spend some time on that private jet thinking about his fragile masculinity. https://t.co/a1Iahn0ARI
— Benjamin Butterworth ð (@benjaminbutter) December 26, 2017