These days, it does seem like the Tiger King part of 2020 happened decades ago. But Carole Baskin just brought it back, for at least one more news cycle. Australian comedian Tom Armstrong pranked Baskin into recording a video birthday message for infamous sex offenders Rolf Harris and Jimmy Savile, and to be honest, it’s the wildest thing we’ve seen since Saff’s unbelievably gracious attitude about having her arm ripped off.
Harris is Australian entertainer whose career came to a quick end when, at age 84, was convicted in 2014 for sexually assaulting underage girls. He is well known in the UK for his songs, “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport” and “Two Little Boys“, for playing the didgeridoo, and inventing the wobble board. Harris was sentenced to five years in prison for assaulting four teenage girls during the 1970s and 80s, and was released in 2017 after serving three years. His disgrace is well-known throughout the UK, and after his conviction, he was stripped of many of the honors he’d received during his career.
Jimmy Savile was an English television and radio personality who died in 2011. After Savile’s death, police investigated some of the hundreds of allegations of sexual abuse against him. They concluded that Savile had been one of Britain’s most prolific sexual predators.
The video, which you can view below, shows Baskin giving one of her, “hey all you cats and kittens” shout-out to Rolf and Harris. Blissfully unaware of the double-entendres, Baskin said, “Hi Rolf Harris! All your kids wanted to get together and tell you that you have really touched them and that they love all that you have done for them. I hear that there’s a lot of great stories about you and your best friend Jimmy Savile. Can’t wait to hear those! Happy Birthday, Rolf!”
Carole Baskin getting scammed into talking about Rolf Harris and Jimmy Savile is peak British humour pic.twitter.com/TMCMAKBePw
— mcdonald has now opened (@believe_swaggy_) July 14, 2020
According to Metro.co.uk, Baskin issued a statement saying that she was unfamiliar with both Harris and Saville, and that had she known who they were, she would never have recorded this video.
“I am amazed at the lengths (and expense) people will go to in order to trash my reputation,” Baskin reportedly said.
Reactions to the prank were pretty unsympathetic on a number of fronts:
Apparently Carole Baskin was “tricked”. Yeah, because we’ve hidden the fact that Rolf Harris and “Jimmy Saveel” are child abusers so well and Google doesn’t exist.
— Daniel (@dcw12789) July 14, 2020
oh my fucking god carole baskin wished Rolf Harris a HAPPY Birthday is she some sort of Nonce
— chantal (@ChantalMascoe) July 14, 2020
#carolebaskin #rolfharris #jimmysaville these three names trending…. i was worried it was the sex tape we all never ever ever want to see
— ℕ (@frostycornet) July 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/therealmissjo/status/1283067002186346496?s=20
Others found the prank insulting and disrespectful to Harris and Savile’s victims, cruel to Baskin, and hypocritical.
https://twitter.com/mandapen/status/1283053956885880837?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/failnaut/status/1283063714619559939?s=20
[Image via Cameo screengrab]
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