Robert Irwin suddenly a lightning rod for controversy with latest move

It’s hard to think of a less controversial figure than Robert Irwin – but his cheerful Instagram posts are attracting some furious responses.

It’s business as usual on Robert Irwin’s Instagram account, with the chirpy young TV star and ‘wildlife warrior’ keeping fans updated with selfies with his pet pug and his snake-rescuing antics.

But in the comments section, it’s a very different story.

Fans – and critics – have flocked to Irwin’s Instagram account to battle it out, in the wake of the news that he’d threatened to sue One Nation leader Pauline Hanson for using his likeness in the political party’s most recent satirical cartoon.

Irwin claims he is mocked in the latest episode of One Nation’s ‘Please Explain’ cartoon series, which shows he and beloved cartoon character Bluey promoting a fictional new Queensland tourism campaign. Irwin has demanded the cartoon be removed on the grounds that it is defamatory.

The episode itself shows Irwin and Bluey trying to show off the best Queensland has to offer, but coming up against issues with housing, health care and youth crime.

Irwin wrangles a python in a new post …

… but in the comments, people just want to discuss this cartoon.

It ends with the pretend Irwin lamenting, “I can’t believe this is the state of Queensland”.

Over the weekend, NewsWire reported that a cease and desist letter was sent by FC Lawyers, acting on behalf Irwin’s behalf, to StepMates Studios, the production team behind Pauline Hanson’s Please Explain cartoon series.If he thought his request would be dealt with quietly, Irwin is in for a shock if he reads his Instagram comments. His most recent posts have all attracted hundreds of comments, not about the cute animals on display but about his threat of legal action against Hanson.

“Lighten up dude the cartoon was funny don’t be a sook,” reads one pro-Hanson comment under a recent post.

“Who takes on Crocodiles and snakes is offended by a cartoon?” asked another commenter.

“The cartoon accurately displayed many of the issues us normal people experience, why even sue them? I don’t even particularly like the woman but my guy get a hold of yourself,” another person wrote.

But many others were firmly on Team Irwin, with one person writing that they “hope you sue Pauline into oblivion.”

“I wouldn’t want my name associated in any way with Pauline Hanson and One Nation. Hang in there Robert,” wrote another supporter.

Irwin’s lawyers say the cartoon’s defamatory …

Hanson’s lawyers argue it’s ‘political commentary.’ Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

“Sorry you’ve had to endure the absurdity of Hanson’s cretinous cartoons. Congrats on calling in the lawyers. Sometimes it’s the only way,” said another.

Amid this social media firestorm, Hanson herself has publicly hit back at Irwin’s threat of legal action, claiming that the cartoon is “political commentary” and the points made are “criticisms of the current state government”.

“Your client’s claims of passing off and defamation are so plainly inconsistent as to be nonsensical,” Senator Hanson’s legal letter states.

“It is difficult to comprehend how a viewer could understand that the video represents an affiliation with your client if he is also being defamed in the same publication.

“One would imagine a publisher would not seek to undermine the reputation of a person with whom they represent an affiliation.”

Originally published as Robert Irwin suddenly a lightning rod for controversy with latest move