Family of British man killed by tiger criticises Trump for sharing video
Relatives say the footage shared on Truth Social is "causing them serious distress," after the 23‑year‑old was killed in a Yorkshire wildlife park.
The family of William Chapman, the 23-year-old British man who was killed by a tiger at a wildlife park in Yorkshire, criticised former U.S. President Donald Trump after he posted footage of the attack on his Truth Social account.
The family said the clip had caused them intense upset. “The deeply offensive media content is causing them serious distress,” they said, after Mr Trump shared the video with his roughly 13 million followers on Truth Social.
What the clip shows
The short recording that Trump posted shows a tiger biting and clawing Chapman while he is seated inside an enclosed area; it does not show the moment of his death. Trump accompanied the post with the message: "Never mess with nature!"
The decision by a high‑profile public figure to circulate the footage prompted swift public reaction, with the victim’s relatives describing the repost as hurtful and distressing. The family’s statement emphasised the emotional impact of seeing the incident spread on social media.
Local authorities and the wildlife park carried out investigations after the attack; Chapman, 23, was pronounced dead following the incident at the Yorkshire park. The family have called for sensitivity from those sharing graphic material online.
Photo: DPA)
