Baby wombat grabber Sam Jones leaves Australia after intense backlash including from PM and immigration minister
GuardianMAR 16
US Influencer Exits Australia After Baby Wombat Controversy
Above: A wombat walks through its enclosure at the Wild Life Zoo in Sydney, Australia on May 19, 2022. Image copyright: Carola Frentzen/Contributor/Picture Alliance via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Sam Jones deserves the backlash she's facing for her reckless behavior. Disturbing a vulnerable joey and its distressed mother was irresponsible and cruel. There's no excuse for causing such fear and potential harm to these precious animals. Wildlife deserves respect, not exploitation for social media attention.
Narrative B
Sam Jones is facing an unjust wave of public outrage, with media attacks and political condemnation far outweighing the gravity of her actions. While her conduct was questionable, targeting her so harshly feels hypocritical when the government itself authorizes widespread harm to native wildlife through sanctioned killings.