“I don’t quite get it,” Valtteri Bottas said of the “strange” success of a photo he posted on social media exposing his bum that helped earn €50,000 for charity.
Following the Miami Grand Prix, Alfa Romeo Formula 1 driver Bottas stayed in the United States, taking time to travel with his partner and professional cyclist Tiffany Cromwell.
Bottas shared a photo of himself swimming in a brook in Aspen, Colorado, with his naked bottom peeking out of the water on Instagram.
Due to the obvious stir it generated on social media, Bottas teamed up with photographer and creative Paul Ripke to create a special one-day-only run of prints for charity. The image was purchased by over 5,000 people, resulting in a donation of over €50,000 to charity.
Bottas confessed it was “strange” to know that 5,000 people would own a photograph of his bum.
“I still haven’t signed any, maybe in autograph session tomorrow [Sunday], maybe I’ll see some,” Bottas said. “I was seeing some photos of people taking pictures, some have it in their living room or kitchen or bedroom.”
“What is incredible that that’s like the power of social media. Like we got €50,000 for charity in 24 hours with a picture of somebody’s bum like this.”
“It’s crazy. I don’t quite get it. But, you know, we make good.”
Cromwell took the photo before Ripke edited it and helped put the charity fundraising plan together, according to Bottas. He doubted that they would do any more items with the image, stating that anyone who was able to obtain a print was “very fortunate.”
“The next day we decided we’d like to print something for charity, and we decided to do it,” he said. “And then it just went like boom.”
