It looks as if each time Lewis Hamilton does anything for the culture, it triggers a wave of racism. His performance at this 12 months’s Met Gala was no different.

On May 6, the annual Met Gala took place in New York, with the long-awaited theme of “Sleeping Beauties: Fashion Awakening.” Hamilton’s outfit for the evening was designed by Burberry and inspired by the work of an 18th-century gardener, which fit perfectly into the “Garden of Time” gala dress code.

The Formula 1 star pondered long and hard about his outfit for the evening, telling Vogue: “I did a lot of research and came across an 18th century gardener who came from Africa to Wales during slavery and became the first black gardener in Wales. And so, despite the odds, we truly triumphed. So that’s really where we get our inspiration from.”

Hamilton accessorized with an attention-grabbing spiked necklace, which he believed symbolized the pain the black community had to endure during times of enslavement.

“I like that the thorns are meant to show pain during the times of the slavery trade,” he added.

Inside the jacket was a poem by the black English poet Alex Wharton.

Hamilton’s appearance is supposedly a nod to John Ystumllyn, considered considered one of the first known black gardeners in Britain and the first well-known black resident of North Wales. It is believed that he got here to the Ystumllyn estate as a captive.

The one-of-a-kind, hand-embroidered Hamilton set took several weeks to create.

But Hamilton’s tribute was met with some controversy.

“What a clown, the most privileged attention in the world.” one person wrote on X

“Lewis can’t do much without being an insufferable racist, it’s true,” one other X user he wrote.

Another person raised the difficulty of Hamilton’s biracial heritage: saying“His mom must be very disappointed in the fact that the guy completely ignores the fact that he is half-white. But do we expect something different from a PR salesman?”

“He always acts like he’s not half white. his ancestors were partially responsible for black slavery. makes my blood boil,” added one other commenter.

Hamilton plays a predominantly white sport and has previously spoken out concerning the racism he faced on his way to the highest of Formula One.

“I heard racist insults being called” – after which – said 12-year-old Hamilton when he talked about his experiences as considered one of the few black people in the game when he first began racing. “When it first happened I felt really upset, I told my mum and pop and felt like I had to get back at them. But these days, if someone says something to me, I just ignore them and get back on course.

Young Lewis Hamilton talks concerning the racism he encountered within the karting world. pic.twitter.com/60VvzwXZ8L

— AFRICAN AND BLACK HISTORY (@AfricanArchives) May 7, 2024

In 2020, Hamilton, who currently drives for Mercedes, got here under fire from the German company past interests have been examined.

“Lewis Hamilton. You are funny. He preached against slavery while being paid by a German slave trading company during World War II. What an idiot” – User X wrote in 2020.

Little did his critics know that in a couple of short years Hamilton would make the shocking announcement that he would go away for Ferrari in 2025 after 11 years at Mercedes.

Seven-time winner of the Drivers’ Championship announced the change in February.

“I have spent an incredible 11 years with this team (Mercedes) and I am very proud of what we have achieved together,” Hamilton said. “Mercedes has been a part of my life since I used to be 13 years old. This is where I grew up, so the choice to leave was considered one of the toughest I’ve ever had to make. But the time is true for me to take this step and I’m excited to tackle this latest challenge.

He continued: “I will likely be perpetually grateful for the incredible support of my Mercedes family, especially (Mercedes team principal) Toto (Wolff) for his friendship and leadership. I would like to finish the race on a high together. I’m 100% committed to delivering my best performance this season and making my final 12 months with the Silver Arrows a memorable one.

Every 12 months on the first Monday in May, the biggest stars, movie stars, musicians and athletes gather to have a good time the Met Gala. Contrary to popular belief, the Met Gala shouldn’t be a fancy dress party, but a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Designers dress guests (hand-chosen by the magazine’s longtime editor Anna Wintour) in a theme inspired by the exhibition at the museum’s Costume Institute for fashion’s most important evening. This 12 months’s edition was “The garden of time“, a nod to the exhibition “Sleeping beauties: awakening fashion” and based on a brief story by English author JG Ballard, written in 1962.

As you would possibly expect, florals were an enormous trend in the off-white rug, and in some cases perhaps crucial.

Here’s a glance at our favorites from the evening.

The king is (almost) dead.

Long live the (next) king.

LeBron James is still amongst us and continues to command the lion’s share of the NBA’s attention. But heirs to his throne are circling, especially in Minnesota, where 22-year-old Anthony Edwards is introducing himself to the general public. “Ant-Man” is here and he looks like “Thee Man.”

Arguments have been raging recently over the NBA’s biggest player of all time as James closes the gap between himself and the supposed GOAT Michael Jordan. James is the league’s all-time leading scorer and, in his twenty first season, has scored more points than another player combined at this point in his profession. At age 39, he averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and eight.3 assists, which must have been enough for him to be named to the All-NBA team for the twentieth consecutive 12 months.

But nobody ever said James reminded them of Air Jordan.

It’s no different with Edwards. People cannot stop comparing him to MJ by way of style, athleticism, trash talking and killer mentality. Playing in little-known Minnesota hasn’t helped Edwards to this point, but legends are born in the postseason. When you have made a reputation for yourself, nothing beats two games on the defending champion’s home field.

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“Obviously they (Jordan and Edwards) have a lot of the same mannerisms,” Timberwolves defenseman Mike Conley he said Sport Lisa. “The movements, the fades, the athleticism, the poster dunks, the blocks and the defensive work he does. But the truth is, it is his motivation that is most significant. Same type of work ethic, same type of “I don’t sleep at all at night because I’m ready to play, I’m ready to play.”

The Timberwolves are halfway to the Western Conference Finals and returned home with a win over the Denver Nuggets on Monday. Minnesota has yet to lose in these playoffs, which is a highlight for Edwards. He averaged 31 points in the first round, defeating Kevin Durant and Phoenix, after which began the game with a profession high in the postseason 43 points on Saturday against the Nuggets. He scored 27 points in Game 2 on Monday, putting Denver’s title defense on life support.

Unlike the late great Kobe Bryant, who studied Jordan extensively and have become his closest replica in history, Edwards never intended to replicate his Air. Similarities emerged naturally, built on outrageous physical abilities and insane work ethic, leading to inevitable comparisons around the world. hoop and next wing.

We’ve seen this story before.

Fans and media began looking next Jordan before the original retired (for the first time) in 1993. Victims included busts like Harold “Baby Jordan” Miner and All-Stars like Grant Hill. Particularly susceptible to labeling were Jerry Stackhouse and Vince Carter, amongst others, who followed Jordan at North Carolina. Bryant welcomed this characterization and carried it well.

Edwards prefers not to go there.

“I want this to end,” Edwards said. “It’s the biggest ever. I can not be compared to him.”

Maybe he’ll; his thoughts on the matter are irrelevant. Conversations about sports are driven by questions like “what have you done recently” and “what can you do next?” Stars rise and fade, and we’re addicted to sorting them into generational rankings, lists, and tiers. There’s nothing we will do about it.

Big men have their very own category, and San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama (7-foot-4) poses a threat to beat all his predecessors, while Denver’s Nikola Jokic is climbing the charts. But 7-foot players aren’t as easily identified as shooting guards who can grab a rebound and go coast-to-coast or pass a defender at knee.

Technically, there won’t ever be one other Jordan or an all-time great player. Players exit on the pitch, do their thing and rack up the numbers in their very own individual style. And while nobody thinks Robert Horry (seven rings) is higher than Jordan (six rings), winning championships is also a separator.

Edwards is fighting for his first NBA title with no certainty that he’ll ever win it. History is full of wonderful players who didn’t make it, including Hall of Famers Elgin Baylor, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley. There is no shame in being on this list if Edwards suffers this fate.

But he’s running a bona fide challenger now in his fourth season, in an attention grabbing way that means he’s just began and has no intention of stopping anytime soon. He is competing with Wemby, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Dončić for the title of “next face of the league”, the only American of the 4. However, nobody else is closer to becoming the next MJ.

Whether you prefer it or not, “Ant Man” is that guy.

Sit back and revel in.