Jeremy Clarkson slams 'sick' Donald Trump after 'beyond the pale' move

President Donald Trump. (Image: Jeff Dean / AP Photo / PA)

Jeremy Clarkson has slammedDonald Trump for a "sick" move which went "beyond the pale".

The former Top Gear presenter criticised the US President for sharing AI-generated material relating to the death of 24-year-old William Chapman in Yorkshire.

Mr Chapman died after entering the tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster, with his family subsequently saying he had suffered from a "significant mental illness".

Mr Trump shared footage relating to Mr Chapman on his Truth Social platform alongside the caption: "Don't ever mess with nature."

He also shared an AI-generated video, set to The Lion Sleeps Tonight, which depicted him overpowering a tiger.

Mr Clarkson subsequently addressed the posts in his newspaper column.

The 66-year-old said: "When I heard that someone had been mauled to death at a zoo in Doncaster, my first thought was, 'Oooh. That's not a nice way to go.'

Yorkshire Wildlife Park is to reopen for the first time since William Chapman was killed by a tiger in an enclosure at the attraction (Image: PA Media)

"My second was, 'And because he has a family, I shall definitely not be writing about the incident in The Sun this week'.

"But then along came Donald Trump. Now I know he puts his foot in it on an almost daily basis, but to upload some AI footage of him successfully wrestling a tiger is beyond the pale. It's sick."

Mr Chapman's family had asked people to stop sharing imagery and videos relating to his death, saying the circulation of material was causing "severe distress at an exceptionally vulnerable time".

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard also criticised President Trump's post.

He said: "[The family] spoke to my office yesterday, sharing the pain and suffering it's causing them, knowing that videos and pictures of his death are being shared across social media.

"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."

Mr Chapman's relatives described him as a "bright, warm and engaging young man" who was "deeply loved".

They added: "Sadly, William suffered from significant mental illness over a number of years and was consequently prescribed strong medication.

"It will be for the coroner to decide what part this played in his death. We would ask everybody to respect that process."

Yorkshire Wildlife Park reopened on Thursday following "engagement with the relevant authorities".