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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Lewis Hamilton and anti racism

155 replies

Changemyname901 · 17/09/2020 09:34

I don’t really understand Hamilton’s anti-racism stance. He is loudly campaigning against Black racism and that’s great, no complaints at all, good for him. But then he spends his free time hanging out with Philip Green, enjoying the spoils of Greens wealth, hanging out on his yacht, wearing his clothes. All of which Green has got from using slave labourers in places like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. He is well known for exploiting people in such countries from young ages.

This makes no sense to me? How can you talk about slavery, as Hamilton has, but then enjoy the spoils of and be good friends with a man who uses slave labour to create his clothes and his empire? I feel like it’s selective. If you’re fighting racism, shouldn’t you be anti all aspects? I’m not saying he should be campaigning about other aspects of racism or modern slavery, if his passion is Black racism then that’s not a problem, he doesn’t have to shout about all other issues in the world, but I feel very cross that he can overlook Greens behaviour and physically benefit from it when he is such an advocate of anti-racism? Green has also been accused of racism and a black worker reported that he said something which I won’t repeat. How can Hamilton overlook all this? Am I being unreasonable to think this? It’s pit me off him to be honest, and I have zero desire to listen to him because I feel like it’s so hypocritical?

Before anyone questions me, I try very hard to shop ethically for food (and clothes when I bother to buy them), so I feel as though I can comment. I wouldn’t support someone like Topshop. Hamilton May also shop ethically, but to hang out on holiday on his yacht and enjoy his wealth just seems such bullshit to me?

OP posts:
CoronaBollox · 17/09/2020 13:54

Hes doing more harm then good IMO. Yes hes bringing attention to the situation but in this case negative attention isn't as good as positive. Like many have pointed out he is a major hypocrite, who indulges in a lifestyle, that is funded from the thing he is fighting against.

It makes people roll their eyes and tell him to shut up.

Scottishlassie81 · 17/09/2020 13:59

I have never liked him. I just got the smug wee shit vibe from him since the start of his F1 career. Granted he's a good driver but he just wins all the time (again good for him) and I don't watch F1 anymore.

His behaviour recently has confirmed my opinion of him in my eyes.

I always got the impression his dad was a controlling pr:ck as well. Lewis has since fired him.

All of the above is just my opinion and he is one of my pet peeves.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 17/09/2020 14:01

@EverdeRose sums it up perfectly

SharonasCorona · 17/09/2020 14:11

Why do people hold black people and Muslims to higher account?

SharonasCorona · 17/09/2020 14:12

@Scottishlassie81

I have never liked him. I just got the smug wee shit vibe from him since the start of his F1 career. Granted he's a good driver but he just wins all the time (again good for him) and I don't watch F1 anymore.

You don’t like him because he’s black and he wins all the time.

StarchyStanley · 17/09/2020 14:14

I have mixed feelings on Lewis Hamilton. He has to be the best F1 driver in the world. He is a bit eccentric and flamboyant I think. I think he's a bit of a showman at heart, which would make sense as he is a big part of a glitzy sport. He comes off as a little bit arrogant, but I might be too if I was that successful!

I thought the tshirt thing was good, but agree that is a little bit vegan fur coat and no knickers if he then makes money out of someone's racist enterprises, which it sounds might be the case, although I'm basing that purely on this thread and didn't know anything about it before now.

It wouldn't be so offensive if he wasn't already wealthy beyond most people's wildest dreams.

But maybe he does a lot behind the scenes which we will never know about, so maybe give him the benefit of the doubt.

moose62 · 17/09/2020 14:16

I have always been a Hamilton fan and appreciate his stance on BLM. However, he is very hypocritical when he is critical of the other drivers. He drives for a team that made their entire fortune off the backs of Jewish prisoners, deprived of liberty, kept as slaves and murdered which is conveniently not mentioned. I think he showed disrespect to his engineers and sponsors by wearing a political t-shirt on the podium whilst collecting his prize and yet more money. Fine wear it at the start of the race and around the paddock but people work very hard to put him where he is and should be able to see their 'colours'. I understand him wanting to make a difference... Use your millions to educate..

Changemyname901 · 17/09/2020 14:18

@SharonasCorona

Why do people hold black people and Muslims to higher account?
@SharonasCorona who has done this? Where? This isn’t about his race at all, it’s about what he stands for.

Don’t try and accuse me of racism.

OP posts:
Scottishlassie81 · 17/09/2020 14:20

[quote SharonasCorona]@Scottishlassie81

I have never liked him. I just got the smug wee shit vibe from him since the start of his F1 career. Granted he's a good driver but he just wins all the time (again good for him) and I don't watch F1 anymore.

You don’t like him because he’s black and he wins all the time.[/quote]
I don't care if he's purple with polka dots I just don't support him, same as folk support one football team or tennis player over another. I also like snooker and am a Ronnie fan. His skill with a cue is amazing.

I don't appreciate a stranger making statements about me. Perhaps your comment was missing question mark?

Proudboomer · 17/09/2020 14:24

Can’t stand the tax dodging hypocrite and it has sod all to do with his skin colour.

EverdeRose · 17/09/2020 14:26

@SharonasCorona
I can't see anywhere where he's been held to a higher standard because of his race.

Held to a higher standard because he's a massive public figure (by choice) who refuses to practice what he preaches. Wearing a t-shirt supporting a political movement wanting to get rid of capitalism while at work whilst simultaneously gerting paid 45 million is ridiculous.

DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult · 17/09/2020 14:28

Didn't agree with his t-shirt stunt at last weekend's GP, I know the FIA were investigating but haven't heard of the outcome.

Why didn't you like the fact he was using his platform to highlight an injustice?

The outcome of the investigation was that any future tshirts had to be approved beforehand.

SharonasCorona · 17/09/2020 14:30

I never see anyone complain about white sporting figures for winning all the time.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 17/09/2020 14:31

Many celebrities of different backgrounds are regularly pulled up on their hypocrisy. May it be climate change, human rights or racism. He is being a hypocrite, he should be pulled up on that like others are.

Proudboomer · 17/09/2020 14:32

No one complains about Mo Farrah winning all the time either and last time I looked he was black and Muslim.

IHaveBrilloHair · 17/09/2020 14:33

He's a wanker.

EverdeRose · 17/09/2020 14:34

@SharonasCorona

People complained constantly when schumacher was winning all the time.

lynsey91 · 17/09/2020 14:35

I met Lewis when he was in karting and he was lovely. Very friendly. A friend of mine knows him slightly and she says he is still the same. She was at a charity event which he and Button were at. She said Lewis went round chatty to loads of people and stayed for ages. Button barely spoke to anyone and only stayed a short time.

I do wonder why he is friends with Philip Green but it's his choice.

Lewis does a lot for charity. He gives time and money to childrens' charities. He visits sick children in hospital.

I don't particularly agree with dogs being vegan but they can live a happy and healthy life being vegan. It's cats that need to eat meat. Lewis thinks the world of his dog Roscoe. His other dog Coco that died this year was going to be put to sleep by her breeder as she had a lot of health problems. Lewis adopted her and gave her a happy life even it it was only for 6 years

lynsey91 · 17/09/2020 14:38

@Proudboomer I believe he does pay tax in the UK but even if he doesn't do you have a problem with all the other sports people, especially racing drivers, who live in Monaco?

If I had a choice between the UK and Monaco, one with pretty good weather and almost no crime and the other with shit weather and tons of crime I know which I would choose

MrsTerryPratchett · 17/09/2020 14:40

@SchrodingersImmigrant

Many celebrities of different backgrounds are regularly pulled up on their hypocrisy. May it be climate change, human rights or racism. He is being a hypocrite, he should be pulled up on that like others are.
Why? Realy why?

The only reason to pull someone up on hypocrisy is because you don't agree with the cause. Otherwise why bother?

It was sort of the point of the book Schindler's List. A rich, selfish, dilettante who fraternised with Nazis, didn't care about relationships, shagged around... and saved all those people. In the book he talks about another man, a Jewish gangster who refuses to spit on the Torah. In all ways an arse, but he has a line, he has a role to play.

If we all did a bit, even if we are flawed and human, it helps. Lewis is far from perfect but he's doing something.

Proudboomer · 17/09/2020 14:44

He uses the Isle of Man as a tax dodge for his private plane saving himself 3 million pounds in ten purchase of that plane.

And I do have a problem with racing drivers no matter where they live as i think the world could carry on quite happily without them adding their pollutants to it. But that is another argument we can have on a different thread.

GoldfishParade · 17/09/2020 14:44

@MrsTerryPratchett

You're not seriously putting Lewis wearing a tshirt on par with Schindler saving Jews from a concentration camp...are you?

He's not doing anything for any cause. He's making more publicity for himself

Thepilotlightsgoneout · 17/09/2020 14:44

What a nasty thread. Disadvantaged black kid from a working class family grafts his way to the top of his game against the odds through talent and hard work, and people like to have a go at him.

He’s not perfect but he’s trying to make a difference and use his platform when he doesn’t actually have to do anything. Always positive. His social media posts are usually about working hard and being anything you want to be. Excellent role model in my book.

SharonasCorona · 17/09/2020 14:47

[quote GoldfishParade]**@MrsTerryPratchett

You're not seriously putting Lewis wearing a tshirt on par with Schindler saving Jews from a concentration camp...are you?

He's not doing anything for any cause. He's making more publicity for himself[/quote]
I think @MrsTerryPratchett point was Schindler was a bit of a knobhead. After the war, he was regularly asking Jews to send him money in Argentina. He was no saint.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 17/09/2020 14:49

Why? Realy why?

Let me quote myself here from above:
^There is imperfect, which we ALL are and then there are bit ridiculous situations.
Kind of like if animal rights activist spent time with owner of butcher shop.
Or preservation activist spent time with developer who is famous for taking down historical buildings.^

No one is perfect. But sometimes it's bit Confused

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