Sam Jones, known as an "outdoor enthusiast," filmed herself removing a joey from the roadside, igniting outrage and a response from Australian officials. Following the incident, she apologized and criticized Australia's animal culling laws, while also facing potential visa complications.
Social Media Backlash: Influencer Apologizes After Filming Distressed Wombat Incident
Social Media Backlash: Influencer Apologizes After Filming Distressed Wombat Incident
A US influencer faces severe backlash after taking a baby wombat from its mother in Australia, prompting an apology and a wave of death threats.
A US influencer, Sam Jones, is dealing with a severe backlash after filming herself taking a wild baby wombat away from its distressed mother along an Australian roadside. The incident, which drew widespread condemnation, resulted in Jones receiving thousands of death threats, prompting a public apology.
While filming the encounter, Jones, who identifies herself as an "outdoor enthusiast and hunter," was seen laughing as she ran with the baby wombat towards a car, while the mother frantically pursued them. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded to the incident by sarcastically challenging her to take a baby crocodile from its mother, suggesting a similar reaction.
In her expression of remorse, conveyed through an extended Instagram post, Jones explained that her intentions were to protect the animals from road dangers. According to her account, the joey remained on the road while the mother wandered away momentarily. She mentioned that her quick decision to scoop the joey up was driven by fear of a potential attack from the mother.
Jones insisted that her actions were "not staged" or intended for entertainment, acknowledging that the excitement of the moment clouded her judgment and led to a lack of context provided to her audience.
In a subsequent message, she took aim at Australia’s contentious animal culling laws, which caused widespread debate across the nation. While wombats, being native to Australia, are a protected species, there are circumstances under which permits can be granted for culling the animals, leading to divergent opinions within the country.
The public outcry was intense enough that Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke indicated that his department was considering the possibility of revoking Jones's visa. However, reports indicate that Jones departed Australia voluntarily before any such actions were taken.
Known as Samantha Strable on social media, Jones boasts nearly 95,000 followers on Instagram, where she promotes herself as an "outdoor enthusiast and hunter." Following the backlash, she has since removed the post featuring the baby wombat.
