Jack Doohan’s family became the targets of a wave of online abuse following a fabricated social media post in the aftermath of Imola GP, prompting both Doohan and the Alpine F1 Team to release statements calling out the trolls.
The Australian driver once hailed as a rising star with Alpine found himself at the center of a social media storm after being replaced as a race driver by Argentina’s Franco Colapinto.
The transition itself was already emotionally charged given Colapinto’s sizable and enthusiastic following and the competitive nature of Formula 1 seats.
However, the situation escalated when a parody account posted a doctored screenshot purporting to show Jack’s father, the legendary motorcycle racer Mick Doohan, mocking Colapinto’s crash during qualifying at Imola.
The fake image which bore the caption “very impressive” alongside laughing emojis was quickly circulated across multiple platforms with little indication that it was a fabrication beyond the account’s username.
The spread of the doctored post was rapid and damaging. Many fans unaware of its satirical origin interpreted it as a genuine slight, triggering a torrent of vitriolic comments and harassment directed at Jack Doohan’s family.
The abuse was not limited to Jack and his father; it also extended to Jack’s girlfriend, Ebony Zippora Gold, and other close associates.
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The situation became so severe that Jack was compelled to hire round-the-clock security during the Miami Grand Prix, a measure typically reserved for only the most high-profile drivers in the paddock such as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
The psychological toll was evident, with reports indicating that Doohan’s sleep and sense of personal safety were significantly affected during this period.
In response to the escalating situation, Jack Doohan took to social media to set the record straight. He posted side-by-side comparisons of the original and doctored images, making it clear that the story circulating was “completely false” and had been manipulated to portray his family in a negative light.
“They edited the original content to make it appear as though my father posted it, which is entirely untrue. Please stop harassing my family. I didn’t think I would have to get to this point,” Doohan pleaded in his Instagram stories.
He further clarified that while he initially believed the fake post originated from Argentine fans, it was actually created by a parody account and subsequently picked up by several Argentine news outlets which reported on it as if it were authentic.
The impact of the incident was compounded by the fact that the parody account behind the post eventually admitted to its role, stating: “We’d like to clarify this tweet was a joke, parodying Doohan Sr’s previous comments.
“While many got the joke, it appears some individuals are posting exceptionally distasteful comments regarding the Doohan family. We’d like to once again restate that this account posts FAKE news”.
Despite this admission and apology, the damage had already been done with Jack Doohan’s family subjected to a barrage of online threats and abuse.
The Alpine F1 Team issued a strongly worded statement in support of their driver and his family. The team emphasized the importance of recognizing the humanity of those involved in the sport, stating:
“As an F1 team, we believe we are fortunate to be part of a global sport that evokes great passion and emotions, with an ever-growing community of fans who enthusiastically follow their favourite drivers’ every move, whether it be a brave overtake on track or what style they are sporting when they arrive in the paddock.
“We encourage everyone to remember that behind the visor of these superhuman athletes there is a personal. An individual with feelings, family, friends and loved ones. As a team, we cannot condone online abuse and urge all fans of this sport we love to be kind and respectful.”
The incident has also drawn attention from the highest levels of motorsport governance.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem released a statement condemning the abuse not only towards the Doohan family but also in response to other recent incidents involving drivers such as Yuki Tsunoda who faced racism online after an unrelated on-track altercation with Franco Colapinto.
