Country music singer Riley Green has ignited a firestorm of controversy after sharing graphic photographs of himself posing with a giant buck he killed, less than a year after he was hospitalised for a hunting-related injury.
A Divisive Instagram Post
The 37-year-old artist posted a series of images to his Instagram account, showcasing the results of a recent bowhunting trip. He captioned the carousel of photos, "That was a hell of a drag out… blessed to be back out here #weouthere #bowhunting #bigboy."
In the first picture, Green was seen lying casually in the shrubbery with the massive dead deer laid out before him. His relaxed pose, with legs splayed and arms behind his head, placed his feet near the animal's head.
A second, more visceral image showed the singer sitting directly behind the deer carcass, propping it up for the camera. The animal was visibly covered in blood, which appeared to be running from its neck down to its leg, while Green held its head up and grinned at the lens.
Adding to the display, Green shared a video to his Instagram Story focusing on the dead animal, accompanied by the text, "My kind of leg day."
Fans React with Fury and Defence
The post immediately split his followers, provoking a heated debate in the comments section. Many expressed their disgust at the cavalier attitude and the decision to share such graphic content.
One dismayed follower commented, "Sad for this beautiful creature... should have let him be." Another wrote, "Okay... But to pose with this dead animal? Excuse me, no!"
The criticism extended to the motivation behind the hunt, with one former fan stating, "You hunt animals for fun? Bye mate… love your music but ain't no way I can support anyone who proudly hunts and kills for fun." Another critic slammed, "I'd understand if you were hunting it for food but to kill it and then pose beside its body like a total p***k."
However, a significant number of followers rushed to the country star's defence, framing the activity as part of his authentic identity. One supporter clapped back, "He's a country boy, what do you expect? And if he eats the meat and not just using it as a 'trophy' what is wrong with living off the land?!" Another fan quipped, "I'm still convinced you're just a hunter who sings on the side."
A History of Hunting and Injury
This controversial post comes less than twelve months after Green himself required hospital treatment following a hunting accident. Back in January, the 'You Look Like You Love Me' singer revealed he had been to the emergency room after stepping on a nail and impaling his foot while hunting.
In a video shared at the time, he could be seen with one boot removed, laughing as he explained that corn had spilled from his boot onto the hospital floor. Green joked about the incident, calling it a "real-world problem."
Sharing his hunting adventures online is a regular occurrence for Green, who posted a similar set of photos from a hunt just last year, cementing his public persona as an avid outdoorsman.
