Nicolas Hamilton - brother of Formula 1 legend Lewis - has spoken out after an online backlash following his appearance on British talk show Loose Women on Thursday.
The younger Hamilton brother, who shares a father with the seven-time F1 champion, suffers from cerebral palsy, but that hasn't stopped him from competing in the British Touring Car Championship.
He does so in a modified car, and was a guest on the show on Thursday when he lifted the lid on his experiences as a disabled person, outlining his difficulties in personal and professional spheres as he was growing up.
Hamilton likes to characterise himself as a champion of the disabled cause, but his interview was met with a severe backlash on social media, with one fellow cerebral palsy sufferer describing it as "pity porn".
I’m not lazy because I have cerebral palsy and use a wheelchair. Nicolas Hamilton pushing this narrative on a prime time tv show like @loosewomen is incredibly harmful.
There are very few disabled people that have a platform. It’s a shame he’s using his to create pity porn
Really difficult to hear Nicolas Hamilton describe life as a wheelchair user as “bleak” and that he “wanted a girlfriend” insinuating disabled people don’t have partners.
Wheelchair using isn’t right for everyone but it certainly is not bleak.
— Michaela Hollywood MBE (@KylaHollywood) April 11, 2024
Hamilton, who has previously been open about discussing the pros and cons of having such a famous and successful - and indeed able-bodied - older brother, was surprised by the backlash, however, and took to Instagram to address it on Friday.