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| Alligator 'gender reveal party' causes controversy | Alligator 'gender reveal party' causes controversy |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The internet is awash with gender reveal videos, many garnering millions of views. However, one such video has caused controversy online. | The internet is awash with gender reveal videos, many garnering millions of views. However, one such video has caused controversy online. |
| Gender reveal parties are a modern trend where expectant parents tell family and friends their baby's biological sex, often in creative ways involving pink and blue colours. | Gender reveal parties are a modern trend where expectant parents tell family and friends their baby's biological sex, often in creative ways involving pink and blue colours. |
| However, the Kliebert family's unique gender reveal video, involving the family's pet alligator and a watermelon, has provoked worries online over safety and animal protection. | However, the Kliebert family's unique gender reveal video, involving the family's pet alligator and a watermelon, has provoked worries online over safety and animal protection. |
| In a Facebook video which has been viewed seven million times, Mike Kliebert, who runs an alligator farm, is seen placing a watermelon into the mouth of Sally, a family pet, in front of a crowd of people. | In a Facebook video which has been viewed seven million times, Mike Kliebert, who runs an alligator farm, is seen placing a watermelon into the mouth of Sally, a family pet, in front of a crowd of people. |
| You may also like: | You may also like: |
| When the animal snaps its jaws shut, the watermelon explodes to reveal blue jelly - signifying the baby will be a boy. | When the animal snaps its jaws shut, the watermelon explodes to reveal blue jelly - signifying the baby will be a boy. |
| The assembled group reacts with cheers of delight and, after the video went viral, many thousands of people congratulated the family on social media. | The assembled group reacts with cheers of delight and, after the video went viral, many thousands of people congratulated the family on social media. |
| However, the video has also angered a lot of people who have strongly expressed their annoyance an alligator was used, calling it "hideous" and "cruel". | However, the video has also angered a lot of people who have strongly expressed their annoyance an alligator was used, calling it "hideous" and "cruel". |
| A number of people expressed their concern over part of the video showing a child rolling on the floor beside the alligator. | A number of people expressed their concern over part of the video showing a child rolling on the floor beside the alligator. |
| At this point in the video Kliebert presses down on the creature's head to stop it from moving towards the child. | At this point in the video Kliebert presses down on the creature's head to stop it from moving towards the child. |
| Some online comments called the event "animal abuse," and journalist Yashar Ali wished "the gator would have bitten his hand". | Some online comments called the event "animal abuse," and journalist Yashar Ali wished "the gator would have bitten his hand". |
| One reply to Ali asked when people will "stop using and abusing animals for their amusement". | One reply to Ali asked when people will "stop using and abusing animals for their amusement". |
| Kliebert has responded to the criticism he and his family received and addresses the "bad thoughts" people had about the gender reveal in a follow-up video. | |
| In the later clip Kliebert introduces his son Blaze, who was the child rolling on the floor in the original clip, and explains there were "at least a dozen people there that are gator handlers" to make the situation safe. | In the later clip Kliebert introduces his son Blaze, who was the child rolling on the floor in the original clip, and explains there were "at least a dozen people there that are gator handlers" to make the situation safe. |
| While Kliebert goes on to say accidents can happen, admitting that the alligator in the background of the video has bitten him three times, he maintains that he is a "world leading" alligator handler and that his family provide a sanctuary for the reptiles. | |
| When asked what he thinks about some of the negative comments made about the family's video, Blaze concludes they are "very mean". | When asked what he thinks about some of the negative comments made about the family's video, Blaze concludes they are "very mean". |
| And others agreed, with one reply to Kliebert's posts calling the original video "the best gender reveal I've ever seen". | And others agreed, with one reply to Kliebert's posts calling the original video "the best gender reveal I've ever seen". |
| Meanwhile, some people took the opportunity to talk about other gender reveal parties, such as this surprise reveal from The Graham Norton Show. | Meanwhile, some people took the opportunity to talk about other gender reveal parties, such as this surprise reveal from The Graham Norton Show. |
| By Tom Gerken, BBC UGC & Social News | By Tom Gerken, BBC UGC & Social News |