Robert Irwin, son of legendary wildlife warrior Steve, has sent legal letters to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation insisting it remove a cartoon he claims is defamatory.
Daily Mail Australia highlighted the recent episode of the firebrand senator’s YouTube series, Please Explain, titled ‘The State of Queensland’ after it was published on Friday.
The parody satirically depicts Irwin and ABC children’s cartoon character Bluey after the pair were revealed as the faces of the state’s new tourism campaign.
However, just hours after the video was posted, FC Lawyers, on behalf of Irwin, sent a cease and desist letter to StepMates Studios, the series’ production team.
One Nation chief of staff James Ashby told Daily Mail Australia they would object to the content of the letter and had brought in defamation expert Sue Chrysanthou SC.
Son of legendary wildlife warrior Steve Irwin, Robert Irwin (pictured) has sent legal letters to the production company behind Pauline Hanson’s ‘Please Explain’ cartoon for One Nation, insisting it remove a cartoon he says , is defamatory.
FC Lawyers’ Zoe Naylor’s letter to the animation studio’s founders, Mark Nicholson and Sebastian Peart, said their depiction of Irwin “constitutes defamation.”
Adding that the cartoon was an “unauthorized and misleading use of our client’s likeness,” Naylor demanded that the studio remove the video from all platforms.
In the episode, Irwin’s enthusiastic character tries to show Bluey all the positive things the Sunshine State has to offer.
But the couple faces the same issues residents struggle with every day.
At one point, the duo mistakes a long queue at the famous Movie World theme park for a rental inspection, highlighting Queensland’s dire housing crisis.
They are also targeted by foul-mouthed criminals who steal their vehicle and “beat up” Bluey.
When they take him to the hospital, they are told that the wait will be “six months.”
The episode ends with a pessimistic Irwin saying, “I can’t believe this is the state of Queensland.”
The firebrand senator’s YouTube series Please Explain featured an episode on Friday titled The State of Queensland, where Irwin and ABC children’s cartoon character Bluey are satirically depicted (pictured).
Ms Hanson’s party chief of staff (pictured), James Ashby, told Daily Mail Australia they would oppose the move and would not remove the cartoon.
Ms Naylor’s letter claims the cartoon “not only tarnished our client’s reputation but also misled the public, causing significant damage to our client’s brand and image”.
“The unauthorized use of our client’s image in this context is particularly egregious as it manipulates the truth and misrepresents our client’s personality, values and beliefs.”
The lawyer demanded StepMates Studios remove the cartoon from all social media platforms and elsewhere online.
Naylor also ordered them not to portray Irwin in the future without permission.
They have until 5pm on Monday to comply with the demands or the firm can take the matter to Federal Court.
