Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry recently stirred up controversy after bringing an 18-month-old tiger named Omar Bradley to LSU’s game against Alabama as a live mascot. The return of a live tiger coincided with LSU’s disappointing 42-13 loss to Alabama.
The tradition of having a live tiger mascot was previously ended in 2015 due to the adverse reactions of the previous mascot, Mike VI, to the sights and sounds of the stadium. Gov. Landry pushed for the return of a live mascot, but his decision was met with criticism from animal rights activists and fans.
After the game, Gov. Landry criticized LSU’s players for their performance and received backlash from “woke people” for his actions. Despite this, he defended his decision, citing the importance of tradition and respecting those who came before.
Animal rights organization PETA condemned Gov. Landry’s actions, calling them “shameful” and “out of touch.” They argued that subjecting a tiger to the chaos and stress of a football game is unethical and urged LSU to reconsider using live mascots in the future.
While Gov. Landry claimed that his comments were meant as a joke, the controversy surrounding the use of live mascots at college football games continues to spark debate. As the debate over tradition, ethics, and animal welfare rages on, LSU fans and animal rights activists alike are left questioning the future of live mascots in college sports.
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