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LONDON, England - A Lotus employee has revealed he was fired for posting a 'tweet' on the Formula 1 team's official social networking account earlier in 2014.
In February, as the winter olympics began in Russia, Lotus posted a photo of two men kissing with the caption "wishing all athletes a successful campaign".
'GAY PROPAGANDA'
The Sochi games had attracted criticism because of Russia's controversial laws against, what it calls, 'gay propaganda'.
Lotus, whose 'tweets' are often humorous and irreverent, promptly removed the "unauthorised" tweet.
It has taken until June 2014 for the full story to emerge. Already it was clear that Lotus' sponsor and owner links to Russia were probably the reason for the tweet's removal.
Former Lotus brand director Stephane Samson said on his Twitter feed on Monday (June 16), however, that he was actually "sacked" over the incident.
Samson tweeted: "Just been told I was sacked because of my supporting tweet towards gay athletes at Sochi. Lotus=Putin. People must know."
Samson even suggested his followers should use the hashtag "LotusAntiGay".
He deleted the new tweets and explained: "Sorry guys, some tweets had to disappear... once again!"
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 F1 season – fresh reports every day.
In February, as the winter olympics began in Russia, Lotus posted a photo of two men kissing with the caption "wishing all athletes a successful campaign".
'GAY PROPAGANDA'
The Sochi games had attracted criticism because of Russia's controversial laws against, what it calls, 'gay propaganda'.
Lotus, whose 'tweets' are often humorous and irreverent, promptly removed the "unauthorised" tweet.
It has taken until June 2014 for the full story to emerge. Already it was clear that Lotus' sponsor and owner links to Russia were probably the reason for the tweet's removal.
Former Lotus brand director Stephane Samson said on his Twitter feed on Monday (June 16), however, that he was actually "sacked" over the incident.
Samson tweeted: "Just been told I was sacked because of my supporting tweet towards gay athletes at Sochi. Lotus=Putin. People must know."
Samson even suggested his followers should use the hashtag "LotusAntiGay".
He deleted the new tweets and explained: "Sorry guys, some tweets had to disappear... once again!"
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 F1 season – fresh reports every day.