President Trump Shares Tiger Attack Footage While Victim’s Family Pleads for Removal
US President Donald Trump faces criticism after sharing social media footage of a man being mauled to death by a tiger at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in England, prompting his grieving family to plead for the online posts to stop. Chapman, a former child actor who battled mental illness, died from multiple traumatic injuries after entering the tiger enclosure.
Family Appeals for Privacy as Inquest Opens into Death
Chapman’s family issued a statement describing him as a warm, bright young man who had suffered from schizophrenia and experienced bouts of psychosis over several years. They questioned whether strong prescription medication played a role in the tragedy, though they emphasized that only the coroner could make that determination. As an inquest opened at Doncaster Coroner’s Court, the family reported that the circulation of offensive media content caused severe distress during an exceptionally vulnerable time, urging the public to halt the sharing of attack videos.
Truth Social and AI-Generated Videos Trigger Backlash
Trump uploaded a 41-second clip of the fatal mauling to his 13 million followers on Truth Social alongside the caption, “Don’t ever mess with nature! President DJT.” The White House’s “Rapid Response 47” account also shared the footage on X. Following the initial post, Trump shared an artificial intelligence-generated video of himself wrestling and befriending a smiling tiger to the tune of The Tokens’ song The Lion Sleeps Tonight, drawing a rebuke from UK broadcaster and Trump friend Piers Morgan on X.
Prior Video Footage and Wildlife Park Response
Investigations into the incident revealed that Chapman had posted his own video to Instagram minutes before his death, showing him calmly walking toward Altai, a 420-pound Siberian tiger. Onlookers watched in shock as the attack unfolded, with park workers eventually firing two warning shots from a shotgun to force the animal back into its pen. Yorkshire Wildlife Park confirmed that Altai is safe and well and will not be euthanised. The park remained closed for multiple days while the Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust launched an internal review into Chapman’s contact with adult mental health services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did William Chapman enter the tiger enclosure?
According to evidence presented at the Doncaster Coroner’s Court, Chapman climbed over two fences to enter the enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on October 10, 2026.
What legal and safety investigations are currently underway?
The City of Doncaster Council is conducting a health and safety investigation into the incident to share with the coroner, while a full inquest into Chapman’s death is scheduled to be held on March 18, 2027.
Will the tiger involved in the incident be put down?
Yorkshire Wildlife Park stated that the Amur tiger, named Altai, is safe and well and will not be euthanised following the fatal encounter.