Piers Morgan has demanded US President Donald Trump delete an AI-generated video showing him wrestling and cuddling a tiger, calling it “appallingly tasteless”. The clip was posted after William Chapman was fatally mauled at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
Trump's Posts Spark Fury
Trump originally shared footage of the attack on William Chapman to 13 million followers on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday evening (October 13), accompanying it with the signed message: “Don't ever mess with nature!”
On Wednesday morning (October 14) he followed up with another post - this time an AI-generated video of him grappling and hugging a tiger. It even featured Trump copying the pointing gesture made by Mr Chapman, and ended with him cuddling the big cat.
Backlash on X
Bloomberg reporter Akayla Gardner was among those who flagged the clip on X. She wrote: “President Trump posts an AI video of himself playing with a tiger after posting footage of a man being fatally attacked by a tiger in the UK.”
Morgan responded furiously, writing on X: “This is appallingly tasteless. Delete it, President @realDonaldTrump.”
Family's Statement
Mr Chapman, 23 - described as a former child actor who had suffered significant mental illness - was killed after entering the enclosure of an Amur tiger named Altai on October 10.
His family later issued an emotional statement, describing him as a “bright, warm and engaging young man”, criticising the online reaction to his death and questioning what part his “significant mental illness over a number of years” and medication played in the incident.
They also pleaded for people to stop sharing footage of the attack, saying the circulation of the material was causing them “severe distress at an exceptionally vulnerable time”.
In a statement, they said: “The family are utterly devastated by their loss and are struggling to come to terms with what has happened. The publication and circulation of deeply offensive media content is causing them severe distress at an exceptionally vulnerable time. We ask people to stop doing this. The family are hopeful that the relevant authorities will do their upmost to get to the bottom of why our amazing son did what he did.”
In the statement, his family added: “William was a bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved - and William loved them back. Sadly, William suffered from significant mental illness over a number of years and was consequently prescribed strong medication. It will be for the coroner to decide what part this played in his death. We would ask everybody to respect that process.”
Investigation Launched
A formal health and safety investigation has now been launched into how the enclosure was breached. South Yorkshire Police have confirmed the tiger was unharmed and “will not be euthanised”, while the wildlife park remains temporarily closed to the public.
