Home Unlabelled PETA Criticizes Steve Irwin On What Would Have Been His 57th Birthday

PETA Criticizes Steve Irwin On What Would Have Been His 57th Birthday

6 years ago
3 minute
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I’d really like to be a fly on the wall when PETA’s marketing meetings are taking place. It seems like every PR move that they make has the same result – making people really freakin’ mad.

Since the turn of the year, they have been the target of ridicule for speaking out against Bo Peep’s herding stick in the promotional materials for Toy Story 4, and outraged people by pretending to barbecue dogs in public, all to make some kind of point about animal welfare.

The fact that things like this keep happening can basically only mean one of two things: either PETA are really, really bad at marketing, or they’re trying their best to make people angry just to get them to pay attention.

Well, it seems that PETA (which stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) might have finally gone too far this time, having criticised Google for celebrating what would have been the late Steve Irwin’s 57th birthday.

Steve Irwin was an Australian national treasure, whose intense passion for wildlife was remarkable. As well as producing countless TV shows in which he got up-close-and-personal with some of the world’s most deadliest critters, he also poured all of his spare time and money into conservation projects.

To honor what would have been his birthday, Google put out a special ‘doodle’, which featured an interactive cartoon which focused on his legacy, as well as his kids and widow Terri, who are now carrying on his work.

It was well-recieved by almost everyone on social media, with one glaring exception. Rather than joining in the fun, PETA lambasted the TV personality and conservationist, calling out Google for what PETA believe to be a ‘dangerous, fawning message’ of appreciation for Irwin and his work.

Irwin was killed at the age of 44, after being stabbed through the heart by a short-tailed stingray on 4 September 2006 while filming on Batt Reef, Australia. This tragic death was something that PETA referenced directly in their tweet, even seeming to blame Irwin for his own demise:

“Steve Irwin was killed while harassing a ray; he dangled his baby while feeding a crocodile and wrestled wild animals who were minding their own business.”

Today’s Google doodle sends a dangerous, fawning message. Wild animals are entitled to be left alone in their natural habitats.”

The doodle was designed and illustrated to depict Irwin and his love for animals, but PETA had their axe to grind, and wouldn’t stop despite the anger it caused. They continued:

“Steve Irwin’s actions were not on target with his supposed message of protecting wildlife.

A real wildlife expert and someone who respects animals for the individuals they are leaves them to their own business in their natural homes.”

The Crocodile Hunter, as he was known on the telly, in fact did a lot of work behind the scenes. Irwin and his wife Terri set up the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation – now operating as Wildlife Warriors – in 2002, and it continues to this day. His children have continued Irwin’s conservation work since his death.

Predictably, social media whipped up an absolute firestorm in response to PETA’s tweet.

These users made some great points, I thought. It’s fair to say that the tweet didn’t go down well, but as we alluded to at the top of the article, maybe that was PETA’s intention all along…

Rest in peace, Steve Irwin. We know that you’d be so proud of your family for carrying on your great work.

The post PETA Criticizes Steve Irwin On What Would Have Been His 57th Birthday appeared first on Go Social.



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