Lewis Hamilton to join in social media boycott this weekend

Lewis Hamilton

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Hamilton to join in social media boycott this weekend

F1 champion reveals past abuse and offers to join social silence

Ian Parkes & Will Gray

Thursday 29 April 2021 17:40

Lewis Hamilton is to join the sporting social media boycott this weekend in solidarity against online abuse and questioned why F1 as an organisation had not yet backed the campaign.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Portuguese Grand Prix, the reigning seven-time champion confirmed he himself had faced abuse over social media earlier in his career and said he feels social media companies must now make a stand.

“I am fully supportive of the initiative and if me also doing it helps put pressure on those platforms to help try to prevent it then, for sure, I am happy to do so,” said Hamilton.

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“I think for me it is clear that racism continues to be an issue and I think social media platforms do need to do more to combat this.

“I was subject to abuse a long, long time ago, at a time, when I was younger, when I was reading social media, when I was reading, like many people do, trying to engage with people.

“There was period of time where I had to understand that you can’t read the comments on there and you can’t take it personally, and if you let things get to you then it can really ruin your day.

“I took a period of time when I stepped back from it a lot and didn’t go searching for stuff, not for validation, I don’t feel I need validation. I have amazing support from many fans that follow me and I am hugely grateful for the support I do get.”

The plans were announced by UK football clubs and since then the English cricket board, Premiership Rugby and the Lawn Tennis Association have all joined to support the campaign.

A number of media companies, including F1 broadcaster Sky, have also committed to a freeze on social posts between Friday at 3pm through to midnight on Monday, and Hamilton hopes it will lead to more progressive work between all groups.

“I do believe that social media companies need to do more,” he added. “There’s algorithms and things, they are able to take steps, and we need to help them to create a more anti-racism society, that’s what we have got to really be pushing towards it.

“I don’t know all the details but I am really proud to hear there are so many organisations getting involved.

"I am not sure why Formula One is not a part of that, but I heard that people like Sky are, for example, so I think I probably will follow and support this weekend.”