From Shaquille O’Neal to Floyd Mayweather to Britney Spears to Beyonce, just about everyone who is anyone is caught up in the “Tiger King” drama.
And you can count former New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. among them.
Long before “Tiger King” was an uber popular Netflix docuseries focusing on the wild life of gun-totting Joe Exotic, his zoo, the big cat community and Carole bleepin Baskin, it was a relatively private world that superstar athletes and Hollywood celebrities would like to rub elbows with.
Giants fans may recall PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, taking aim at Beckham Jr. in January of 2019 after the eccentric wide receiver posted an Instagram video of himself playing catch with a chimpanzee and tug-o-war with a few big cats.
That video was filmed at the Myrtle Beach Safari, which is owned by Doc Antle, who is another prominent figure in the “Tiger King” series.
The video was accompanied by several photos.
In their official response to the photos and videos, PETA took aim at Beckham’s injury history and made note of the allegedly illegal activities occurring at the Myrtle Beach Safari, which was actively taking part in the filming of the documentary at that time.
THESE SENSITIVE AND MUCH-ABUSED ANIMALS BELONG WITH THEIR FAMILIES IN NATURE, NOT PIMPED OUT AS PROPS BY SHAMELESS ROADSIDE ZOOS. WE’RE SURE THAT ODELL BECKHAM JR. HAD NO IDEA THAT THE SLEAZY SAFARI PARK WHERE THIS YOUNG CHIMPANZEE IS KEPT HAS A LENGTHY RECORD OF VIOLATING FEDERAL LAW AND USES GREAT APES AND BIG-CAT CUBS IN CHEAP PUBLICITY STUNTS LIKE THIS. THESE ENCOUNTERS ARE INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS, AND PETA URGES EVERYONE—INCLUDING BECKHAM, WHO CERTAINLY DOESN’T WANT ANOTHER INJURY—TO STEER CLEAR OF CRUEL FACILITIES THAT EXPLOIT ANIMALS.
Antle responded to PETA’s criticisms shortly after they were made during an interview with WFAN, where he implied that Beckham’s presence at the zoo helped create awareness.
“This is not a backyard zoo,” Antle told WFAN. “This is a really magnificent wonderful place.”
The photos and videos, as you can see above, remain live on Beckham’s social media accounts.
