F1 grid girls slam snowflake ‘feminists’ for banning them from racetrack – and admit they ‘love’ their jobs
FORMULA One grid girls have slammed the snowflake "feminists" who cost them their jobs saying they "love" their role in the sport.
The decision to shelve the grid girls came after darts bosses decided to end the tradition of the walk-on girls.
Lauren-Jade Pope, a grid girl and ring girl, told The Sun Online: "I've been doing this for over eight years now and it should be our choice what we do for work, whether it be this, whether it be hostessing, ring girl duties, we should have the choice.
"What's annoying me more than anything is the so called feminists, they are not even really feminists, are defending us without even asking us how we feel, and we've lost out jobs because of this.
"For me this was really just for the enjoyment. I have a passion for the motorsport anyway.
"I really enjoy the job and I get paid to watch the sport I love.
"The are trying to defend us but they are not.
"It's one of the best jobs I've ever done.
"I've made friends with a lot of the girls in each of the championships and not one of them has mentioned they have felt uncomfortable.
"Everyone has an opinion but if someone who enjoys their job, just leave them to it."
She tweeted last night: "Because of these feminists, they've cost us our jobs!
"I have been a grid girl for 8 years and I have never felt uncomfortable!
"I loved my job, if I didn't I wouldn't do it! No one forces us to do this! This is our choice!"
The decision was blasted by fans backing the girls, who have been part of motorsport since the mid-1960s.
Yesterday ex Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone said the girls were a much-loved part of the sport.
He said: "Fans love the glamour. The country at the moment is getting a bit prudish.
"You should be allowed to have grid girls because the drivers like them, the audience like them and no one cares. These girls were part of the show, part of the spectacle."
The grid girls are best-known for holding driver name-boards on the grid and lining the corridor through which drivers walk on their way to the podium if they finish in the top three.
Model Kelly Brook also disagreed with the move, writing for The Sun: "It’s probably not even occurred to these PC campaigners that the women might actually like the work."
Grid girl and businesswoman Natalie O’Brien, 23, dubbed the decision “crazy”.
The model, from Goole, East Yorkshire, said: “It was a great job and so much fun — and we made great money.
“The drivers and the people involved in racing have so much respect for the grid girls and we always have our managers looking after us.
"I have never been touched or treated inappropriately. It is not like we were walking round in knickers and bras.
“We had nice dresses on — the kind of thing most girls would wear on a night out.
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“We never felt exploited or objectified. We applied for the work because we enjoyed it and because it was well paid.”
F1 commercial boss Sean Bratches confirmed yesterday: “We feel this custom does not resonate with our brand values and clearly is at odds with modern-day societal norms.
"We don’t believe the practice is appropriate or relevant to Formula One and its fans, old and new, across the world.”
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