With people from around the globe mourning the loss of Steve Irwin, and heaping praise on the man who brought joy to millions of people, feminist and fellow Australian Germaine Greer thought it appropriate to attack him.
In a scathing attack in a British newspaper, Greer said nature had taken its revenge on Irwin for his robust handling of Australia’s native animals.
Mocking Irwin’s multi-million-dollar empire and his “Crikey!” catch-cry, Greer accused the world-famous TV star of placing the welfare of animals after his own interests.
“There was not an animal he was not prepared to manhandle,” she wrote in The Guardian.
“Every creature he brandished at the camera was in distress.
“Every snake badgered by Irwin was at a huge disadvantage, with only a single possible reaction to its terrifying situation — which was to strike.
“Easy enough to avoid if you know what’s coming.”
The author of The Female Eunuch hit below the belt as she accused Irwin of sending the wrong message to kids.
“The animal world has finally taken its revenge on Irwin, but probably not before a whole generation of kids in shorts seven sizes too small has learned to shout in the ears of animals with hearing 10 times more acute than theirs, determined to become millionaire animal-loving zoo-owners in their turn,” Greer wrote.
Despite the fact that Greer is completely wrong – even animal rights activists have applauded Steve’s life work – how utterly despicable to say such things. His family are mourning as they come to terms with the loss of a husband and father, for goodness sake!
I suggest Greer goes off somewhere and burns her bra..preferably while still wearing it.
Update: And here are some of the usual suspects putting down Steve, while simultaneously ripping into George Bush.
