Lewis Hamilton reportedly unfollowed and blocked Jon Jones after the Formula 1 champion saw footage of the UFC great taking part in a helicopter hunt. Jones claims Hamilton sent him a lengthy private message condemning the way the animal was killed before cutting off contact on social media.

The unusual dispute brought together two of the most recognisable figures in modern sport, but from sharply different ethical positions. Jones defended the hunt by saying the meat was donated to a family in need, while Hamilton has spent years publicly campaigning for animal welfare and a plant-based lifestyle.

The message that ended their connection

As quoted by Josh Lawless in SPORTbible’s report on the dispute, Jones discussed the incident during an appearance on the ALF Global podcast. He said the hunt took place with Army Rangers and involved shooting pigs from a helicopter with AR-15 rifles.

“Lewis Hamilton, I went hunting years ago with a bunch of Army Rangers and we ended up hunting pigs from a helicopter using AR-15s,” Jones said. “I was so proud of myself because I killed one of the pigs from the helicopter. My pig was donated to an underprivileged family in the community.”

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According to Jones, Hamilton saw the footage and responded directly. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion has not publicly confirmed the contents of the alleged message, meaning the exchange is currently known only through Jones’ account.

“But Lewis saw me shoot the pig from the helicopter and he wrote me a long message saying that I was a coward and he thought I was better than that,” Jones said. “He said that the traditional way of killing animals should be with a spear or bow and arrow.”

Hamilton allegedly demanded a fairer fight

Jones claimed Hamilton believed shooting from a helicopter gave the animal no realistic chance of escape or resistance. The Ferrari driver reportedly argued that anyone determined to hunt should at least use a method that placed the hunter closer to the animal.

“He said only a coward could shoot an animal from a helicopter,” Jones recalled. “Give the animal a chance to fight you back at least.”

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The message apparently brought their social-media association to an abrupt end. “He unfollowed me and he blocked me,” Jones said. “It sucked because I was a fan of him. He was very disappointed in me.”

The footage was posted in 2021

Although Jones referred to the incident as taking place “years ago,” the hunt can be traced to January 2021. The former UFC light-heavyweight and heavyweight champion uploaded footage showing him shooting a wild pig from a helicopter during an outing that included Medal of Honor recipient Patrick Payne.

Jones captioned the original post: “One shot, one kill, lots of bacon. Was an honor hunting with Medal of Honor recipient Patrick Payne.” The footage drew an immediate backlash from viewers who criticised both the method of hunting and Jones’ apparent celebration of the kill.

According to Fightful’s contemporary report on the video, Jones responded with what he described as an apology, although he continued to defend his actions. “I apologize if this video makes some of you guys uncomfortable. At the same time, I’m excited for my shipment of meat to get to Albuquerque,” he wrote.

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“I took my time with that first shot to make sure the animal did not suffer,” Jones added. “Bet half you guys that are offended eat sausage and bacon on a weekly basis.”

Hamilton’s animal welfare stance

Hamilton’s reported reaction would be consistent with the views he has expressed publicly throughout much of his Formula 1 career. He began moving towards a vegan diet in 2017, citing concerns about his health, the environmental impact of animal agriculture and the treatment of animals.

As described in a Reuters report published by Euronews, Hamilton later used his platform to promote veganism and call for changes to personal consumption. He has also spoken openly about the difficulty of advocating for environmental reform while competing in a sport that travels around the world.

Hamilton sold his private jet and reduced his collection of petrol-powered cars as part of an attempt to lower his personal carbon footprint. He has nevertheless faced criticism over the contradictions between environmental campaigning and the resource-heavy nature of Formula 1.

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Jones offers a belated apology

More than five years after the hunting video was posted, Jones appears to regret losing Hamilton’s respect more than he regrets the public controversy itself. His account of the message centred repeatedly on the fact that he admired the British driver before the disagreement.

Jones ended the story by addressing Hamilton directly. “Lewis, if you’re listening, I’m sorry, man,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

Hamilton has not publicly responded to the new remarks. Until he does, the precise contents of the private exchange remain Jones’ version of an unexpected dispute between two sporting champions.

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