No one's laughing now. Though he's known for his off-kilter humor and comedy series, Ricky Gervais was all too serious this week on Twitter as he slammed hunters who happily pose with their dead game.
It all started on Monday, April 13, when he posted a shot of Eye of the Hunter co-host Rebecca Francis, lying down next to a dead giraffe.
"What must've happened to you in your life to make you want to kill a beautiful animal & then lie next to it smiling?," Gervais, 53, captioned the disturbing image.
What must've happened to you in your life to make you want to kill a beautiful animal & then lie next to it smiling? pic.twitter.com/DyYw1T5ck2
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) April 13, 2015
Soon after, many of Gervais' followers were posting death threats to the lifelong hunter, declaring she should be shot instead. Francis released a statement on April 14 on HuntingLife.com about her decision to shoot the giraffe.
"When I was in Africa five years ago I was of the mindset that I would never shoot a giraffe," she wrote. "I was approached toward the end of my hunt with a unique circumstance. They showed me this beautiful old bull giraffe that was wandering all alone. He had been kicked out of the herd by a younger and stronger bull. He was past his breeding years and very close to death. They asked me if I would preserve this giraffe by providing all the locals with food and other means of survival. He was inevitably going to die soon and he could either be wasted or utilized by the local people. I chose to honor his life by providing others with his uses and I do not regret it for one second. Once he was down there were people waiting to take his meat. They also took his tail to make jewelry, his bones to make other things, and did not waste a single part of him. I am grateful to be a part of something so good."
“@AndyBee_26: she's so proud of herself! pic.twitter.com/esnGDpnFTn” < yeah, she probably killed this one to feed the poor locals too 😉
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) April 15, 2015
Soon after a follower posted another shot of Francis, standing over a dead lion and writing, "she's so proud of herself!" Gervais jokingly replied, "yeah, she probably killed this one to feed the poor locals too ;)"
He later shared a shot of a baby giraffe being fed by a human, writing, "Thanks to all the dedicated volunteers around the world who care for the orphans of poaching & trophy hunting."
"@TallentRay Maybe someone should just shoot you. You're a disgrace to people" < I'll make it easier for you Ray…. pic.twitter.com/jqKV0v4ZDo
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) April 16, 2015
When one follower retaliated, writing, "Maybe someone should just shoot you. You're a disgrace to people," Gervais shared a shot of himself in a giraffe-printed jacket, and replied, "I'll make it easier for you Ray."
On April 16, Gervais addressed some of his critics on Twitter.
I know we are all different & I don't expect Trophy Hunters to change their ways, but I will always speak up for animals because I can 🙂
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) April 16, 2015
I wish people would stop confusing hunting to eat and hunting for thrills, tusks, or to hang an endangered species on the fucking wall.
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) April 16, 2015
