Ricky Gervais vs Rebecca Francis: Comedian calls out hunter for posing next to giraffe she killed

Comedian Ricky Gervais is hilarious on television, in films and on stage. But when it comes to social media, he has found a greater use for online tools like Facebook and Twitter: to bring awareness to the mistreatment of wild animals.

On April 13, the Derek creator and star star re-tweeted a pic of a Utah based game hunter, Rebecca Francis, lying next to a giraffe she killed on a hunting trip in Africa five years ago.

What must’ve happened to you in your life to make you want to kill a beautiful animal & then lie next to it smiling? pic.twitter.com/DyYw1T5ck2

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) April 13, 2015

The status update has since been tweeted over 22,000 times and has received responses of both support for Gervais and condemnation of Francis’ actions — including death threats.

@rickygervais Maybe she’s a trophy as well? Ready to be brought home and be stuffed.

— Truls Bärg (@trulsbaerg) April 13, 2015

@rickygervais Only a deranged heartless person will do this.

— Odette ♍ (@MissOForYou) April 13, 2015

@rickygervais I see this picture and I still find it hard to comprehend that this sort of brutality exists in people.

— Kylie Timpani (@kylietimpani) April 13, 2015

@rickygervais I know this is very hypocritical of me but i want to fucking shoot her just for this picture…

— LLOYD J ☮ (@AsapGinger1) April 13, 2015

@rickygervais @LaurenWissenden OMGSH!!!! DISGUSTING BITCH SHOULD BE SHOT!!

— Heather (@Hevernly) April 13, 2015

Francis, winner of the reality TV series Extreme Huntress, put the picture into context via a statement issued by HuntingLife.com’s Facebook page:

When I was in Africa five years ago I was of the mindset that I would never shoot a giraffe. I was approached toward the end of my hunt with a unique circumstance. They showed me this beautiful old bull giraffe that was wandering all alone… He was past his breeding years and very close to death. They asked me if I would preserve this giraffe by providing all the locals with food and other means of survival…I chose to honor his life by providing others with his uses and I do not regret it for one second.

Also, in a recent interview with HuntingLife, Francis said that the death threats she receives only “strengthen her resolve” and blasted advocates like Gervais for going after women hunters in the media. “I believe that the anti-hunters specifically attack women because they view women as an easier target,” she said. “That simply is not true. We as women will do whatever it takes to protect our right to hunt. We won’t back down. We are not weak.”

Gervais, however, followed up his Francis tweet with an affirming message for his followers:

If you don’t have empathy with animals, you don’t have empathy. pic.twitter.com/cjSxVY5HrQ

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) April 13, 2015