Robert Irwin, the wildlife conservationist and son of the legendary Steve Irwin, has initiated legal action against One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. The dispute arose after Irwin’s likeness appeared in a satirical animation that was part of Hanson’s YouTube series, “Please Explain,” which debuted its latest episode on June 13.
The contentious episode features a cartoon depiction of Irwin alongside the popular children’s character, Bluey, as part of a critique on their involvement in a Queensland state tourism campaign. The episode, which runs for two minutes and 22 seconds, humorously tackles issues such as lengthy healthcare waiting times, the impact of wind turbines on natural habitats, and racial divisions.
Despite the evidently tongue-in-cheek tone of the series, 20-year-old Irwin did not appreciate the portrayal and has responded by sending a cease and desist letter to Hanson through his lawyer, Zoe Naylor. The legal notice accuses the video of being defamatory and states that it makes “unauthorised and deceptive use of our client’s image.”
“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,” the letter warns, according to News.au.com. It further demands the immediate removal of the video, threatening further legal action should the content remain online.
@paulinehansononenation The State of Queensland | Pauline Hanson’s Please Explain Become a Please Explain monthly member and support the series: https://pleaseexplain.org.au/
♬ original sound – Senator Pauline Hanson – Senator Pauline Hanson
As of June 17, the video remains accessible on YouTube, having amassed over 200,000 views. The reaction from the public has been mixed. Some viewers have criticized Irwin’s decision to pursue legal action, suggesting he should embrace the humor. Comments from 7NEWS include one viewer saying, “Crying because of a cartoon, grow up,” and another adding, “No Aussie humour anymore. Have a cup of concrete Irwin. Bloody hilarious.” Another person praised the cartoon for being ‘spot on’ and questioned the necessity of legal action.
However, others have shown support for Irwin, voicing their opinions on platforms like Facebook. One person wrote, “I’m with Robert Irwin on this one. The cheek of them. They didn’t ask his permission and they have no clue on his stand on the government.” Another supporter stated, “If he’s been used without permission, then he has every right to sue.” Additionally, someone else expressed, “If they want to use his likeness, being funny or not permission needs to be sought and he’s not suing for money he just wants it stopped. He’s standing up for himself so good on him.”
In response, Hanson has defiantly declared on X that she will not be taking down the episode. “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,” she stated.