BBC faces online backlash as Lewis Hamilton, who ‘doesn’t even have TV licence’, wins Sports Personality of the Year
The BBC has faced a backlash on Twitter after Lewis Hamilton was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, with many taking umbrage at the fact he lives in the tax haven state of Monaco.
The awards took place at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro last night, Sunday 14 December, with Hamilton receiving 209,920 public votes.
The Formula One world champion received over 85,000 more votes than golfer Rory McIlroy, who came in second place, followed by distance runner Jo Pavey.
When he won, Hamilton said: ‘I’m so proud and honoured to be among such great sporting talent. I want to say a huge thank you to all the people who called in, I really wasn’t expecting it.”
Guardian columnist David Conn pointed out that Hamilton is a UK tax exile.
Right in saying Lewis Hamilton is a UK tax exile? Given personality award by the BBC, funded by everybody's licence fee ... #SPOTY
— David Conn (@david_conn) December 14, 2014
In times of hardship and austerity, it's truly heartwarming that we're handing out awards to a tax exile who's driven a car about. #SPOTY — JasonSpacey (@Jason_Spacey) December 15, 2014He pays no tax, has zero personality and doesn't even have a tv licence. How does that work? @LewisHamilton #SportsPersonality #GetInspired
— show (@nick__moore) December 14, 2014
Other winners on the night included Sir Chris Hoy, who scooped the lifetime achievement award.