One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has issued a response to Robert Irwin after he threatened to sue over a cartoon featuring his likeness.
Irwin, the 20-year-old son of Australian wildlife legend Steve Irwin, features on a recent episode of Hanson’s Please Explain cartoon.
During the two-minute, 22-second-long video, he and the popular cartoon Heeler puppy, Bluey, are evicted from a beach and address issues such as clean energy, healthcare waiting times and racial division.
The video, titled ‘The State of Queensland’ was published on YouTube on June 13 and Irwin has since filed a cease and desist letter to 70-year-old Senator Hanson.
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Irwin's lawyer, Zoe Naylor, claims the ‘tongue-in-cheek’ video 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," her letter states, as per News.au.com.
"We will commence legal action against you if you do not take down the video immediately.”
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After receiving Irwin’s threat, Hanson shared her response online.
The politician did so by posting a letter from Gillis Delaney Lawyers - who are acting on her behalf - to social media.
“I will not be removing the latest episode of Pauline Hanson’s Please Explain,” she wrote on Monday (June 17). “I look forward to the day when Robert and I can have a good laugh over this and turn our focus to making Queensland a better state.”
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Moreover, Hanson’s head of staffing, James Ashby, has made a statement and claimed the legal threat from Irwin was a surprise.
"It's hard to know exactly what Robert is offended by because the reality is Robert was the hero in the episode, not the villain," said Ashby, as per ABC.
"I think Robert just needs to lighten up. I really think he's [kicked] an own goal here.
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"His dad always had a good sense of humour and most Queenslanders, most Aussies, always saw that larrikin side of Steve."
He added that One Nation has ‘got no intention of taking the video down’.
Furthermore, it’s claimed that the 45-year-old has extended an invitation for Irwin to discuss the satirical video with Hanson.
"More than happy to do steak and veg around the fire … This Friday, he's welcome. Just say the word Robert,” the publication reports.
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UNILAD has previously contacted Robert Irwin’s legal representatives and Pauline Hanson for further comment.
Topics: YouTube, Celebrity, Politics, Australia, World News, Social Media
Ella Scott