A 23-year-old man was killed by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in England after entering the animal's enclosure, prompting an investigation into the circumstances of his death.
Days later, US President Donald Trump shared footage of the incident with millions of followers before posting an AI-generated video showing himself wrestling with a tiger and eventually embracing it. Trump's posts drew criticism amid the family's appeal for people to stop circulating distressing material connected to the tragedy.
William Chapman died on Saturday, October 10, at the wildlife park near Doncaster. His family subsequently described the emotional toll of losing him and asked the public to respect their privacy while authorities investigated what happened.
The controversy escalated when South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard accused Trump of using artificial intelligence to mock the incident and the family's suffering.
How William Chapman Died At Yorkshire Wildlife Park
South Yorkshire Police said they received reports at 1.35pm on October 10 of a man entering a tiger enclosure at the wildlife park. The tiger attacked him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the animal remained inside the enclosure during the incident.
Chapman's relatives released a statement on Tuesday describing him as a 'bright, warm and engaging young man' who was dearly loved by his family. They also disclosed that he had experienced mental illness over a number of years and had been prescribed strong medication.
The family stressed that the circumstances surrounding his death needed to be properly established, rather than subjected to speculation online.
'It will be for the coroner to decide what part this played in his death,' they said, referring to his medical history. They also asked the public to respect the investigative process.
Their statement included a direct appeal over the spread of footage and images associated with the incident.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 13, 2026
'The publication and circulation of deeply offensive media content is causing them severe distress at an exceptionally vulnerable time. We ask people to stop doing this,' the family said.
The request was not explicitly directed at Trump by name. Instead, it addressed the wider circulation of material that was making an already painful period harder for the family.
Doncaster Council, which licenses the wildlife park, launched a health and safety investigation. The park confirmed that the Amur tiger involved, named Altai, would not be euthanised.
Chapman had appeared in television productions as a child, including ITV's comedy drama May Contain Nuts. His former stage school, Jackie Palmer Stage School, also paid tribute to him, remembering his time there as a performer.
Donald Trump's AI Tiger Video Draws Criticism
Trump shared footage of the attack on his Truth Social account on Tuesday, accompanying it with the caption, 'Don't ever mess with nature! President DJT.' The clip showed the tiger attacking Chapman inside the enclosure, although it did not show his death.
The president subsequently shared another video featuring a montage of people apparently being attacked by big cats. He later posted an AI-generated clip depicting himself interacting with a tiger.
The AI-generated video showed Trump, dressed in a blue suit and red tie, wrestling with a tiger before eventually embracing it. The clip was accompanied by 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight', a song originally recorded by The Tokens.
Trump actually posted this AI video of him with a tiger in the middle of the night. This man is demented and mentally unwell. pic.twitter.com/LdVgdCw5xh
— Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) October 14, 2026
Coppard said Chapman's family had contacted his office to explain the pain caused by videos and pictures of the incident being shared online.
'The president of the United States now using AI to mock that incident and the pain felt by the family of Mr Chapman, for little more than a cheap laugh on social media, should be greeted with the contempt it deserves,' Coppard said, according to The Independent.
He also urged people not to pass the material on if they encountered it.
Wildlife campaigners criticised the video for portraying close contact with a dangerous animal as harmless entertainment. Will Travers, executive president of the Born Free Foundation, questioned the impression such imagery could create about interactions between people and wild animals.
The incident raised concerns about the distress caused to a bereaved family by the circulation of footage and the risks associated with depicting encounters with powerful predators as harmless entertainment.
An inquest into Chapman's death was scheduled to open at Doncaster Coroner's Court on Thursday, October 15. The investigation is expected to help establish the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, while his family has asked the public to allow that process to take place.
