Family of Man Killed by Tiger Ask Public to Stop Sharing 'Deeply Offensive' Content as Trump Reposts Clip

The family of a 23-year-old man killed by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park have asked the public to stop circulating 'deeply offensive media content', saying it is causing them 'severe distress at an exceptionally vulnerable time'.

William Chapman died after entering the tiger enclosure at the park near Doncaster on Saturday, 10 October. Donald Trump reposted footage of the incident on Truth Social on Tuesday evening, when Chapman's relatives also issued their appeal, although their statement did not name the president or any individual account.

Police Ask Public Not to Share Footage

South Yorkshire Police said it received reports at 1.35pm on Saturday that a man had entered the enclosure. Emergency services attended, but Chapman was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police also acknowledged that videos of the incident were circulating online and encouraged people not to share them.

Trump reposted footage showing Chapman inside the enclosure with the tiger. The family's appeal asked people to stop distributing distressing material and respect their privacy as they grieved.

Their statement did not single out a particular post or account. Instead, it focused on the harm that the circulation of the material was causing them.

AI Video Draws Warning From Wildlife Charity

Trump also shared AI-generated content depicting himself interacting playfully with a tiger, set to The Tokens' song The Lion Sleeps Tonight. The video reportedly echoes a pointing gesture Chapman made towards the animal before the fatal attack.

Will Travers, executive president of the Born Free Foundation, criticised the post as 'not only incredibly insensitive' and warned about the potential consequences of presenting interactions with dangerous wild animals as entertainment.

He said such content 'can encourage individuals to seek out direct, unrealistic and high-risk contact with captive wild animals'.

The AI-generated video is separate from the real footage of Chapman inside the enclosure.

Family Members Ask Coroner To Establish Circumstances

Chapman's relatives described him as 'bright, warm and engaging' and said he was dearly loved. They also disclosed that he had experienced significant mental illness over several years and had been prescribed strong medication.

'It will be for the coroner to decide what part this played in his death,' the family said, asking the public to respect that process.

They added that they hoped authorities would establish why he entered the enclosure. Their statement did not offer a definitive explanation for his actions, leaving the circumstances to be examined through the coroner's process.

Altai the Tiger Will Not Be Put Down

The tiger involved was Altai, an endangered Amur tiger transferred to Yorkshire Wildlife Park from a zoo in Norway in 2025.

In a statement, the park confirmed that Altai was 'safe and well' and would not be euthanised. It also said staff affected by the incident were receiving specialist support.

The park was evacuated after the incident and remained closed on Monday, 12 October.

City of Doncaster Council, the park's licensing authority, said it had launched a health and safety investigation and was working with police and health agencies.

As those inquiries continue, Chapman's relatives have asked the public to respect their grief and stop distributing material they say is causing further distress.

If you are affected by any of the issues in this article, you can call Samaritans free in the UK on 116 123. In the US, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline on 988. Both services are available 24 hours a day.