| The internet erupted last week when Lewis Hamilton exceeded social media’s track limits by publicly berating his toddler nephew on Snapchat for parading around in a princess dress on Christmas.
In the short video, Hamilton raised his voice – albeit tongue-and cheek – and bawled out the five-year-old for his non-standard accoutrement choice.
Unfortunately, in our day and age of cyber excesses and overblown drama, the post was met with an avalanche of reactions – mainly from the politically correct and gender bender brigade – which by far exceeded the misdemeanor.
Pitch forks and torches in hand, the angry mob proceeded to burn Hamilton to the stake before recommending he stick his toxic masculinity up his bum. Dreadful stuff.
Pressured into an apology, Hamilton did just that, insisting that, on second thought, “I I love that my nephew feels free to express himself the way we all should…”
That was far from the end of it however as the outcry grew, fueled in part by a not-so-subtle, equally aggressive, in-your-face response by the Mercedes driver’s fans who defended their man tooth and nail.
At that point, Hamilton delivered a second reaction, as spectacular and swift as it was wordless: he simply purged his Instagram and – to a lesser extent – Twitter accounts!
The driver’s 5.7 millions followers watched in shock as one of the most popular sportsmen on the planet called it a day on social media. Hamilton hasn’t drafted a word, a picture, an emoji or a hashtag since.
The move was admittedly a surprising one given the importance of the four-time world champion’s presence on social media and its prominent role in helping him interact with the fans and, ultimately, build his image and brand.
It’s doubtful the deafening silence will last however. Rather than an emotional or testy reaction, perhaps Ham’s move is a strategic one, destined to first calm the passions before getting everyone – including Liberty Media – to implore his return.
At which point the buzz shall have run its course and our man will head back to cyber duty on his own terms, enhancing his presence and status. And with a few hard-learned lessons from which to profit.
It may take awhile, perhaps even a few months of quizzical teasing or moody questioning, but make no mistake, Lewis Hamilton will be back.
Phillip van Osten
Editor of F1i.com |
