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William Chapman died on Saturday after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster in northern England.
Trump had shared an AI video showing him wrestling and befriending a smiling tiger to the tune of ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’. (Screengrab)
The family of a 23-year-old man fatally mauled by a tiger at a UK wildlife park has urged people to stop sharing distressing content of the attack, after US President Donald Trump posted footage of the incident and later shared bizarre AI-generated clips featuring the big cat.
William Chapman died on Saturday after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster in northern England.
His family said the circulation of videos and other material about his death was causing them “severe distress” at an exceptionally difficult time.
Family Appeals Against Offensive Online Posts
In an online tribute published late Tuesday, Chapman’s family called him as a “bright, warm and engaging young man” who had suffered from “significant mental illness over a number of years”.
“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 said.
They also questioned whether the strong medication Chapman had been prescribed may have played a role in the incident.
Trump’s Posts Spark Social Media Backlash
Trump shared a 41-second video of the fatal attack with his followers on Truth Social on Tuesday, captioning it: “Don’t ever mess with nature!”
The White House’s Rapid Response 47 account later shared the footage on X. Trump subsequently posted apparently AI-generated clips showing people being mauled by the big cats, followed by another AI video depicting him wrestling and befriending a smiling tiger to the tune of The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
The posts drew criticism online, including from some of Trump’s supporters. One user questioned the president’s judgement, writing: “I’m a big supporter but not a fan of this post. To each his own.”
British broadcaster Piers Morgan also criticised Trump for sharing an AI-generated video of himself fighting a tiger, calling the post “appallingly tasteless”.
“This is appallingly tasteless. Delete it, President @realDonaldTrump,” Morgan wrote.
Inquest Due As Park Remains Closed
Chapman was visiting the wildlife park alone, and it remains unclear how he entered the enclosure. He was pronounced dead at the scene after emergency services were called.
An inquest into his death is due to open in Doncaster on Thursday. The park remained closed for a fifth day on Wednesday.
The tiger involved, an Amur tiger named Atai, was reported to be safe and well. The park has said the animal will not be put down.
Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers, are an endangered subspecies, with an estimated 500 remaining in the wild.
(With inputs from agencies)
Quick Answers
Ask News18William Chapman, a 23-year-old man, was fatally mauled by an Amur tiger after entering an enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and an inquest into his death is scheduled to open in Doncaster on Thursday.
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October 15, 2026, 02:11 IST
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