It’s been a long week since Formula 1 announced it would no longer use Grid Girls in formal competitions, which provoked outrage across the largely male-dominated racing community.
F1 cited “societal norms” as its primary reason for terminating Grid Girls, saying the use of female escorts and models “does not resonate with our brand values.”
F1 to stop using grid girls
“Custom does not resonate with our brand values” https://t.co/zKqSwM8EUU
— Formula 1 (@F1) January 31, 2018
So instead of using scantily clad show girls at the start of races, Formula 1 is going to substitute “Grid Kids” in their spot.
“The next generation of #F1 fans will mingle with today’s drivers before lights out in 2018,” Formula 1’s official Twitter announced. “F1 and the @fia have announced that Grid Kids will be featuring this coming season.”
ICYMI: The next generation of #F1 fans will mingle with today’s drivers before lights out in 2018
F1 and the @fia have announced that Grid Kids will be featuring this coming season
We might even spot the next @Max33Verstappen ( with dad Jos)
More >> https://t.co/r50zFbdetC pic.twitter.com/59gst1Gm2e
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 5, 2018
But this move didn’t go unnoticed. Skeptical F1 fans tweeted some pretty angry stuff about the brand’s decision to remove Grid Girls. Some even threatened to boycott F1 entirely.
You’re not fooling anyone, this grid kids decision wasn’t planned and was taken to try to quiet down the #GridGirls ban backlash you’re completely ignoring. Maybe F1 fans should #BoycottF1 and remind you where your income comes from.
— #Kimi7 (@ice07_f1) February 5, 2018
So no more grid girls, but the kids are alright. Or are they? I seem to remember on a few occasions grid girls passing out in the heat. What happens if a child suffers the same? Grid girls worked in all the series too. Will the kids do that? It’s a nice idea, but can it work?
— Ben Hunt (@benjhunt) February 5, 2018
LOL…. so now instead of paying “grid girls” (and boys!), they’re going for free “child labour” and making kids stand beside cars on roasting hot days for hours at a time – nice #F1
Didn’t they think that “Gird girls” might be fans as well? https://t.co/bmqafG44gD
— Mike Dailly™ (@mdf200) February 5, 2018
Last week after F1 announced its decision to remove Grid Girls, outcry from the newly fired models received national attention. Many Grid Girls complained that they were fired without warning and would be forced to seek livelihood elsewhere.
“Scantily clad furniture”, “sexualising women”, “provocative”, “Id never let my daughter wear a grid girl outfit”… just some of today’s comments, yet people clearly haven’t dont their research as these are my outfits from my 5 years in F1 #gridgirl #gridgirls pic.twitter.com/etbcCPnCC1
— Rebecca Cooper (@rebeccageldard) January 31, 2018
“What people don’t realise, is that the girls have knowledge of the products and teams they are promotion — that’s part of the job. We get a brief on the uniform but it’s up to us if we feel comfortable in it. We are more clothed than what teenagers wear down the supermarkets,” former Grid Girl Michelle Westby said.
Alot of people asking my view on the grid girl ban situation , well check out my page for my view https://t.co/F9CC1g23EI pic.twitter.com/6RRznAXBGE
— michelle westby (@michellewestby) February 1, 2018
If you want to go down this path of banning ‘grid girls’, then you’ve got to bin beauty pageants, lingerie ads and anything where a woman looks remotely desirable. Magic Mike films grossed 289.7 million USD. Objectification of the sexes occurs BOTH ways. Let’s not forget that.
— Lucy Zelić (@LucyZelic) February 3, 2018
It’s really sad to see tweets from #Gridgirls who are proud of what they do but are to be denied their living by the po faced anti fun anti beauty feminazi left and its media enablers.
— David Vance (@DVATW) February 1, 2018
Should I even bother to ask if the people who have removed F1 grid girls have created new jobs in other departments for women to replace these job opportunities with leadership roles? Of course I shouldn’t bother to ask that.
— Emily Sears (@emilysears) February 3, 2018
It’s probably safe to say that F1’s decision to replace Grid Girls with unpaid kids didn’t go unnoticed. And the wildly unpopular decision may even affect fans’ appetite for the sport.