Family of UK man killed in tiger attack urges people to stop posting offensive media after Trump shares footage and AI tiger images draw backlash

The family of William Chapman, 23, who died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster in northern England on Saturday, has urged people to stop posting what it called deeply offensive media content of the attack. The park remained closed for a fifth day.

Chapman’s family said he had experienced significant mental illness for years and questioned whether his strong prescription medication played a role in the incident.

The appeal followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s post of footage showing Chapman being fatally mauled. Trump shared the 41-second clip with his 13 million Truth Social followers under the caption, “Don’t ever mess with nature!” The White House’s “Rapid Response 47” account later shared it on X. Trump subsequently posted AI-generated visuals of big-cat attacks and of himself wrestling a tiger, prompting strong backlash from social media users who questioned his judgment.

An inquest into Chapman’s death is due to open Thursday in Doncaster. It remains unclear how he entered the enclosure of Atai, a male Amur tiger. The park said the tiger is safe and well and will not be put down.