In American politics, there are few organizations that can unite both the left and the right quite like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA.
The right already is skeptical of most any conservationist groups — and yes, I know how bitterly and hilariously ironic it is for “conservatives” to be skeptical of “conservation,” but here we are anyway. The left, at least most of the left, rolls their eyes at PETA specifically because of PETA’s tendency to be…well…assholes, frankly. I’m not sure if someone actually edited PETA’s Wikipedia page like this, or if it’s a photoshop, but generally, this description perfectly embodies how most people feel about PETA.
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If PETA ever wants to convince sane people that they’re not an insane bunch of people, they probably will want to stop doing stuff like attacking one of the most famous and well-liked and respected animal rights activists of our lifetimes — “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin. I’m pretty sure that someone at PETA mixed in a little extra pretentiousness with their coffee on Friday, because they tried to drag Irwin on what would have been his 57th birthday because Google made their Doodle about him that day.
In a tweet, PETA said that Irwin died while “harassing a ray” and that he also “dangled his baby while feeding a crocodile.” They also made sure to concern troll about Steve “wrestling with animals who were minding their own business.” They ended the tweet with something that’s hard to disagree with, but completely ignores the fact that Irwin wasn’t just pestering animals to be a dick; he was a conservationist and a teacher. To say that what Irwin did was harassment is just silly.
#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
Anyone who knows anything about Irwin knows that he was an insanely big animal rights activist. He was eccentric and excitable, but no one could ever watch his show and not come away with the impression that his life’s work was caring for and about animals, not whatever B.S. PETA tried to hang on him. Steve’s career was dedicated to helping animals and from stopping poaching, two things the simpletons at PETA clearly do not understand…or they’re just jealous that Irwin was more famous and popular at doing what they try and fail to do so much? I’m not sure.
PETA had more idiocy to spew, though. I don’t know what “real wildlife expert” PETA is referring to, but I live in San Diego, which happens to have perhaps the most prestigious zoological society in America, and they don’t breed every animal in captivity; far from it. It’s almost like PETA doesn’t get that sometimes in order to truly protect animals, you have to take them out of their habitat; especially if that habitat is under threat by other human activity.
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
The last PETA tweet on Irwin is so laughable and cringey. It’s like PETA has absolutely no idea what Irwin was doing. He was an ambassador of biological and animal education. Something tells me the animals he was bringing on TV didn’t care all that much, and if they did, it’s a pretty minor inconvenience to help spread the message of true stewardship and conservation, not the fake kind that PETA does strictly for more donations.
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
Luckily for my faith in humanity, Irwin is still very much a beloved figure, and people from all over the political spectrum jumped in to hammer PETA. This meme that Dan posted on his page sums up the hell that PETA unleashed on itself.
Here are some of the best Twitter responses to PETA’s slander of Steve Irwin and his work.
PETA is an embarrassment to animal rights
— Zack Bornstein (@ZackBornstein) February 23, 2019
I’m glad this person pointed out that what Steve was doing wasn’t to fear monger about animals, but to educate everyone about them. He was trying to make us all feel more connected to the other animals in our world.
https://twitter.com/AdrianLeewayne/status/1099359746161823749
What a great meme, and even though I don’t believe in Heaven, it would sure be nice if this could happen anyway. We really didn’t deserve Steve Irwin.
Whenever Steve Irwin is brought up I’m always reminded of this tumblr post, because Steve literally would do this. pic.twitter.com/IkKdz0rUZk
— Corniellius (@corniellius) February 23, 2019
This is great.
Someone finally managed to bridge the division in our country! Kudos, #PETA! pic.twitter.com/VEgMHVhd9s
— “Deathless” Keith Blalöck 🤘 (@KeithBlalockPW) February 23, 2019
#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
— Sketchykay (@Glasses2themax) February 23, 2019
https://twitter.com/_Manu_Sama/status/1099308078502162434
https://twitter.com/Christielee2806/status/1099351498436145152
Crikey! That’s a whole of ass kickin’ that PETA took! It would be a real shame if they slinked off and never were heard from again. A man can still dream, can’t he?
Steve Irwin was unassailable in his dedication to what PETA only pretends to do. While PETA is great at sucking up donations from suckers who think they’re really helping the animals, Irwin’s non-profit conservationist group is still thriving since it was founded back in 2002. The smell of desperation on PETA’s tweets is almost as revolting as their hackneyed attempt to smear a man who is on their side.
Jealousy is a bad look, PETA, but then again, bad looks is all you guys know how to do, so we won’t all go acting too surprised, will we?
Writer/comedian James Schlarmann is the founder of The Political Garbage Chute and his work has been featured on The Huffington Post. You can follow James on Facebook and Instagram, but not Twitter because he has a potty mouth.