Reigning Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen has recently come forward to defend his girlfriend, model and columnist Kelly Piquet, against a relentless stream of online abuse and false allegations. Piquet, who has been dealing with this disturbing trend for over three years, shared a poignant message on Instagram detailing the severity of the harassment, which has markedly worsened in recent months.
Piquet described the digital sphere as fraught with misinformation and deceit, impacting her deeply on a personal level. She posted to Instagram:
“A note from me and a gentle reminder to all…The online world can be a wonderful place for various reasons, but a very scary one when wrong information and lies are thrown around.”
“For over three years, I’ve been navigating a very strange and upsetting wave of accusations, rumours, fabricated situations, fake testimonials, photoshopped screenshots…you name it. All the while staying silent and not playing into these ridiculous claims.
Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Kelly Piquet pose for a photo during a red flag delay during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course… PETER FOX/GETTY IMAGES
“Accusations made in the past months especially have taken on another level of defamation. Those who know me know that I would never put myself in such positions, say certain things or act in such a way. I am far from perfect, but I do take pride in my values, morals and manners. Let’s be clear.
“As a human being, the comments and hate affect me and the people around me deeply. I hope this serves as a reminder for people to verify online content before making threats.”
Echoing the sentiments of behavioral change, Piquet shared a quote from James Clear:
Expressing his exasperation, three-time champion Verstappen condemned the actions of those spreading hate online towards his family. He commented in support:
“This has to stop. These false accusations by certain individuals on Instagram and TikTok are insane and ridiculous at the same time. Hate has no place in this world. We know what’s true within our family and we are very happy together. I love you.”
The couple’s struggle underscores a broader issue facing many public figures: the impact of online toxicity and the importance of digital kindness and accuracy. Verstappen’s vocal support of Piquet not only sheds light on their personal challenges but also calls for a collective reassessment of online behavior, urging a more thoughtful and verified interaction in the digital age.
