It was a really weird time yesterday when 15 year old Russian go karter Artem Severiukhin decided to perform a Nazi salute on the winner’s podium in the 11-15 bracket of the FIA Karting World Championships. Didn’t really see something like that coming.
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Anyway, since the gesture – which he also laughed after – the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile swiftly launched an investigation into his unacceptable conduct and his professional Swedish sports team Ward Racing have cut all ties with him. This prompted Severiukhin to issue the following half assed apology:
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I want to apologise to everyone for what happened yesterday at the European Karting Championship. Standing on the podium, I made a gesture that many perceived as a Nazi salute. But it’s not true – I have never supported Nazism and consider it one of the worst crimes against humanity.
I can’t explain how everything else happened. I know it’s my fault, I know I’m a fool, and I’m ready to be punished. But please understand that […] there was no support Nazism or fascism with this gesture.
Pretty good English there from the kid, but I’m just not sure if I believe him on this one? I know you can argue he’s young and naive and didn’t know any better and everything, but if he truly believes that Nazism is one of the worst crimes against humanity then I don’t think he would be making gestures like that if they could even be vaguely construed as supporting the movement.
He also kinda just sounds like he’s reading off a preprepared statement with no real emotion or anything in his tone or voice and he can’t really explain why he did it which either means he’s an idiot or he wanted it to be seen as a Nazi salute. I guess maybe we should give him a break because of his age, but he should definitely face some sort of consequences – which seems to be what is happening now. See what happens to the guy I suppose, but it seems like a really stupid way to throw a promising career under the bus.
For more of the same, check out this drunk Neo Nazi who got a swastika tattooed on his testicle. Can’t really argue with that.
