Hamilton faces backlash after kissing Kardashian

Lewis Hamilton’s second-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday arrived with a public kiss for Kim Kardashian—yet Formula One fans are also resurfacing his 2023 comments about limiting billionaires, sparking a wave of hypocrisy claims online.

Lewis Hamilton went from podium lights to a cheek-to-cheek moment with Kim Kardashian after the Monaco Grand Prix—and the same weekend that delivered his seventh-place legacy moment on track also dragged his off-track politics back into the spotlight.

Hamilton. 41. secured his third podium of the season at Sunday’s race. finishing second in a dramatic end where Kimi Antonelli picked up the chequered flag for the fifth race in a row. Only after the result was in could he be seen rushing over to Kardashian. giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek in what appeared to be their first public kiss moment together.

The attention on the couple was immediate because Kardashian watched Hamilton race for the first time since their romance became public. For many fans, the timing felt almost too perfect—because as the weekend played out, Hamilton’s older comments about economic inequality also returned to the feed.

In 2023. Hamilton had said on Jay Shetty’s podcast that he struggled daily with “disparity between the wealthy and the poor.” He pointed to the reality he said he sees in Los Angeles. where “there are still so many people living on the streets.” He also argued: “You shouldn’t be able to have billions. I think there should be a limit to how much you can have because there’s enough to go around for everyone.”.

That clip re-emerged across social media at the weekend. drawing fresh scrutiny because Kardashian—Hamilton’s billionaire girlfriend—has an estimated worth of $1.9 billion (£1.42bn). Fans also noted that Hamilton himself is estimated to be worth around $550 million (£412m). meaning the combined figure for the pair is believed to reach $2.45 billion (£1.83bn). The math is what turned commentary into criticism.

One fan wrote: “Both the amount of hypocrisy here and the lack of pushback is really something to behold.” Another added: “Umm… a bit rich coming from Hamilton. What’s the net worth of your girlfriend. Kim Kardashian again?” A third commenter urged him to act on his words: “@LewisHamilton be the change you want to see and give all of the boundless excess of cash you and your girlfriend have away and we’ll go next.”.

The couple’s public visibility has grown quickly. Kardashian and Hamilton. who have been friends for more than a decade. have been going strong for nearly six months after they were first spotted getting cosy on New Year’s Eve in Aspen. They went public with their romance at the Super Bowl in February and then went Instagram official.

Hamilton’s weekend wasn’t just about a kiss, either. Just last week. he was seen with Kardashian’s four children—who she shares with ex Kanye West—for the first time. Earlier this week. Kardashian posted a selfie on Instagram that showed Hamilton had taken it while the two enjoyed a bike ride together on Monday. A source had previously described the relationship as “intense,” adding that Kardashian’s family absolutely “adores” him.

For Hamilton, though, the on-track moment in Monaco came with a second storyline that didn’t stay on the sidelines. His second place and third podium of the season were clear enough. But as the kiss played out in public. so did the question fans keep asking: what does it mean when someone calls for limits on billionaires. while dating one publicly worth $1.9 billion?.

Lewis Hamilton Kim Kardashian Monaco Grand Prix F1 hypocrisy Jay Shetty podcast economic inequality Kimi Antonelli