Robert Irwin, the son of renowned wildlife expert Steve Irwin, has sparked a legal dispute over his likeness to appear in a satirical cartoon series titled ‘Please Explain’.
On social media, many fans were stunned after a video featuring a character alongside Robert Irwin surfaced.
The video titled ‘The State of Queensland’ is from Hanson’s Please Explain cartoon.
The episode, which runs for two minutes and 22 seconds, shows him alongside the beloved animated Heeler dog, Bluey, as they are expelled from a beach while discussing topics such as clean energy, healthcare wait times, and racial divisions.
Additionally, 70-year-old Senator Hanson shared this video on her account.
The video has the caption: “The State of Queensland | Pauline Hanson’s Please Explain”
The video, released on YouTube on June 13, garnered attention from viewers.
Many fans believe this cartoon mocked him in the comment selection.
One person said: Pauline, please make Queensland great again.
A second wrote: Pauline Hanson used that cartoon for political purposes, without the consent of Robert Irwin.
A third commented: Brilliant as usual i see it hasn’t been taken down, request to do so would be from the back room puppetmasters.
Following the incident, Irwin issued a cease-and-desist letter to 70-year-old Senator Hanson.
Robert Irwin recently issued a cease-and-desist order against One Nation leader Pauline Hanson following his portrayal in a cartoon episode titled ‘The State of Queensland’.
The episode, featuring Irwin and the character Bluey, touches on various societal issues, prompting Irwin’s legal team to claim defamation and unauthorized use of his image.
The incident escalated after Robert Irwin issued a legal threat to 70-year-old Senator Hanson.
According to News.au.com, Irwin’s lawyer, Zoe Naylor, stated that the cartoon video is defamatory and involves the ‘unauthorized and deceptive use of our client’s image’
She added: “You are potentially liable to our client in respect of defamation, deceptive use of a person’s image, passing off and misleading and deceptive conduct.’
Althoung faced to legal action from Irwin, the cartoon series remain on Youtube, even shared th rough social media.
Irwin’s lawyer, Zoe Naylor, cited concerns over defamation and deceptive use of Irwin’s image, demanding the immediate removal of the video.
She said: “We will commence legal action against you if you do not take down the video immediately.”
In response, Hanson refused to take down the episode, expressing her intent to stand by the content and suggesting a future reconciliation with Irwin.
“I will not be removing the latest episode of Pauline Hanson’s Please Explain,” she wrote on Monday (June 17). “I look forward to the day when Robert and I can have a good laugh over this and turn our focus to making Queensland a better state.”
The incident quickly went viral and sparked debate on social media. The incident has divided public opinion, with some criticizing Irwin’s stance as overly sensitive, while others defend his right to protect his image.
One person said: I think Robert is a fine young man but he lost his way dancing on the worst television show in history and that ruined the families image more than a funny cartoon that had the most truthful points.
A second wrote: Steve would have been embarrassed that Robert lowered himself to that awful show and would have had a laugh at the cartoon.
While a third commented: He embarassed himself by going on “Im a celebrity, get me out of here”.
Someone else said: Don’t change, well done. I love watching those videos
Another added: Good on you Pauline, shove it down the young, so called Wildlife Warriors throat.
Public domain, I thought once you did that you were sorta up for any ridicule or possible words. Cmon Rob calm down man wasnt even aimed at you personally. Another user said.
What did you think about this incident?
