CHEYENNE , Wyo., April 15 (UPI) — A photo of a grinning Rebecca Francis laying next to a dead giraffe she admits to have killed went viral after a tweet by Ricky Gervais.
“What must’ve happened to you in your life to make you want to kill a beautiful animal & then lie next to it smiling?” the comedian asks.
Gaining over 23,000 retweets, the photo — and the established huntress — reached social media users who sent death wishes and messages of disgust her way.
In an effort to mend her public image, the ex-television co-host, grandmother, and hunting guide reached out to allies at Hunting Life to release a statement regarding the photo.
“When I was in Africa five years ago I was of the mindset that I would never shoot a giraffe,” she says through the post. “I was approached toward the end of my hunt with a unique circumstance.”
Apparently, her guides showed her a lonely bull giraffe that “was past his breeding years and very close to death.” They asked Francis to “preserve” this giraffe by killing it and letting locals use it as food.
“I chose to honor his life by providing others with his uses and I do not regret it for one second. Once he was down there were people waiting to take his meat,” she continued. “They took his tail to make jewelry, his bones to make other things, and did not waste a single part of him.”
“I am grateful to be part of something so good,” she concludes.
The attempt to retain her controversial reputation backfired, however, prompting more comments condemning the woman and the act.
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