US President Donald Trump is facing criticism for sharing footage of a man being mauled by a tiger to social media.
William Chapman was mauled to death by a tiger after entering an enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, near Doncaster, over the weekend. Footage of the incident later emerged on social media, prompting the 23-year-old's family to urge people to stop sharing it.
Among those who reposted the gruesome footage was Trump, who shared it with his 13 million followers on Truth Social. While the video did not show Chapman being killed, it showed the animal bite and claw him.
Trump's caption said: “Don’t ever mess with nature! President DJT.”
He later posted an AI-generated video of himself chasing and playfighting with the tiger, accompanied by The Tokens' song The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
In a statement, Champan's family said the circulation of footage from the attack was "causing them severe distress at an exceptionally vulnerable time".
"We ask people to stop doing this," the statement said.
UK broadcaster and one of Trump's friends, Piers Morgan, was among those who criticised the President.
"This is appallingly tasteless. Delete it," he said on X.
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard accused Trump of using AI to mock a tragedy for a "cheap laugh track on social media".
In their statement, Chapman's family remembered him as a "bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved – and William loved them back".
They said he had battled "significant mental illness over a number of years", and had been prescribed "strong medication" – but what part it may have played in his death "will be for the coroner to decide".
"We would ask everybody to respect that process."
"The family are hopeful that the relevant authorities will do their utmost to get to the bottom of why our amazing son did what he did."
Chapman, a former child actor, appeared in the 2009 comedy-drama TV movie May Contain Nuts and 2012 BBC educational drama series True Stories.
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including the most divisive issues this election, and the country’s best sausage. (Source: 1News)
SHARE ME