Robert Irwin threatens to sue Pauline Hanson over "defamatory" cartoon
Robert Irwin has threatened to sue One Nation leader Pauline Hanson for defamation.
In the latest episode of Pauline Hanson's cartoon series Please Explain, Irwin claimed that he was mocked after it depicted him and Bluey promoting a new tourism campaign for Queensland.
The episode satirically depicted Irwin attempting to show Bluey the best of Queensland, but mocked the state's housing crisis, youth crime, and health care.
At one point in the cartoon, the pair mistake a long queue for a rental property for a line at Movie World.
FC Lawyers, who are acting on behalf of the wildlife conservationist, have sent a cease and desist letter to StepMates Studios, the production team behind Pauline Hanson’s cartoon series.
In the letter obtained by NewsWire, Irwin's lawyer claimed that the cartoon is defamatory and involves the “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 sates.
“We will commence legal action against you if you do not take down the video immediately.”
The letter also claims that the cartoon tarnished Irwin's reputation and misled the public, causing “significant harm to our client’s brand and image”.
“We are concerned that the unlawful use of our client’s image may be an attempt to pass off yourself or party as currently being affiliated or otherwise authorised by us, which you are not,” it continues.
“This unlawful use has the potential to mislead or deceive consumers into believing that you have.
“The use of our client’s image and name on the video is capable of leading not an insignificant number of reasonable and/or ordinary people into erroneously believing that the Pauline Hanson is associated with Robert.”
Some people have defended Irwin's move, saying: "It is Pauline Hanson who is the politician and she has a record of trying to sue others when offended."
"She likes to dish it out but can’t take it which will cost her at the ballot box!"
"What about when Pauline Hanson threatened legal action over Pauline Pantsdown," another added.
However, a few others have called him a "snowflake" and told him to "grow up".
"Your dad would [have] had a good laugh at Pauline's cartoon. Grow up, stop being a snowflake!" one person wrote on X.
"Robert Irwin is very thin skinned he needs a laugh," another added.
Images: news.com.au/ Instagram/ Getty