Animal rights activists group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), has come under fire across the internet after bashing the late animal conservationist Steve Irwin.
During a reply on Twitter regarding a Google Doodle cartoon that was celebrating the life of “The Crocodile Hunter,” PETA decided to take the opportunity to rile up some controversy:
#SteveIrwin was killed while harassing a ray; he dangled his baby while feeding a crocodile & wrestled wild animals who were minding their own business. Today’s #GoogleDoodle sends a dangerous, fawning message. Wild animals are entitled to be left alone in their natural habitats. https://t.co/9JfJiBhGLw
— PETA (@peta) February 22, 2019
The animal rights group doubled down with some follow up tweets regarding Irwin, a famous TV personality from Australia who was tragically killed by a string ray while filming a documentary in 2006:
Steve Irwin’s actions were not on target with his supposed message of protecting wildlife. A real wildlife expert & someone who respects animals for the individuals they are leaves them to their own business in their natural homes.
— PETA (@peta) February 23, 2019
It is harassment to drag exotic animals, including babies taken from their mothers, around from TV talk shows to conferences & force them to perform as Steve Irwin did. Animals deserve to live as they want to, not as humans demand––the #GoogleDoodle should represent that.
— PETA (@peta) February 23, 2019
It wasn’t long before social media users came to the defense of Irwin, following what should have been a remembrance the conservationist on his birthday, and called out PETA’s hypocrisy. Many tweets pointed out how PETA doesn’t save many animals with the money it gets through donations:
remember when you guys killed over 70% of the animals you rescue when they show any violent tendencies yet steve irwin literally let animals bite him and forgave them for it. don’t ever disrespect steve he did more for animals than your entire organization did or will do ever
— jack (@fuckkjackk) February 24, 2019
That’s a nice glass house you’re throwing stones at a dead wildlife conservationist in pic.twitter.com/Lq6aswetcH
— Ghastly (@Ghastly) February 24, 2019
I'm an Australian wildlife rescue volunteer. #SteveIrwin and his family gave an awful lot of quiet, unpublicised support to organisations like mine. He was a serious conservationist & did the hard & unglamourous work required. PETA are attention-seeking posers by comparison
— Greg (@humbleminion) February 23, 2019
Others posts were funny in a MEME fashion:
— Rochelle Ragusi (@RagusiRochelle) February 25, 2019
— Chee walcott 🏴 (@cheewalcott) February 25, 2019
— Sketchykay🇵🇸 (@Glasses2themax) February 23, 2019
— Spike007980 (parody) (@spike007980) February 24, 2019
Me getting ready to fight PETA after what they said about Steve Irwin pic.twitter.com/sLdeiMrubz
— The Strangle Squad (@_StrangleSquad) February 25, 2019
Actor Drake Bell even got in on the act of bashing PETA:
So your response here is this Human deserved what he got and is better off dead?! You are a disgusting organizationand and should be absolutely ashamed!! He was a FATHER and a HUSBAND and did WAY more for wild life conservation than the IDIOT INTERN hired to write this tweet!
— DrakeBell.ethᵍᵐ (@DrakeBell) February 24, 2019
Someone went onto Wikipedia and updated PETA’s page with some not so flattering information:
If you haven't yet heard...
— Farm Babe (@thefarmbabe) February 24, 2019
PETA should not have messed with Steve Irwin. pic.twitter.com/RTvb3RFrwq
The whole public relations debacle even pointed out that PETA uses an auto response message anytime someone uses the hashtag #donate during an interaction with the animal rights group:
If nothing else, the experience helped people better remember the work that Irwin did during his life to help animals:
