The internet is in an uproar over the euthanasia of Peanut, a beloved pet squirrel who had become a social media sensation with his charming antics. And adding fuel to the fire is none other than Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has taken to X, formerly known as Twitter, to condemn the Biden administration and call it a ‘mindless and heartless killing machine.’
Peanut’s story began when his owner, Mark Longo, rescued him as a baby after his mother was hit by a car. Longo bottle-fed the squirrel and attempted to release him back into the wild, but Peanut repeatedly returned, forming an unbreakable bond with his human companion. With time, Peanut’s endearing videos and photos on Instagram (@peanut_the_squirrel12) amassed a large following, making him a beloved online celebrity.
However, Peanut’s journey took a tragic turn when the Chemung County Health Department and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) claimed that Peanut and a raccoon found in Longo’s care were euthanized to test for rabies. This decision came after Peanut bit a government worker, and officials cited the risk of human rabies exposure as the reason for the euthanasia.
Longo was devastated and lashed out at the authorities on Instagram, accusing them of being cruel and insensitive. He also blamed the actions of certain individuals who reported him, expressing his anger with the phrase, “Internet, you WON.” His comments sparked a wave of outrage among Peanut’s fans and animal rights advocates.
Elon Musk’s involvement in the controversy further intensified the debate. He joined thousands online in mourning Peanut’s death, expressing his grief and frustration with the government’s actions. Musk took to X to post a picture of Peanut perched on Longo’s back and wrote, “President Donald Trump will save the squirrels.” He then posted a follow-up tweet featuring an AI-generated image of Peanut as the iconic Star Wars character Obi-Wan Kenobi, holding a lightsaber, with the caption, “If you strike me down, I will become more powerful than you could possibly imagine. Obi PNut Kenobi.”
Musk’s criticism of the Biden administration went even further, with him stating that the government is a ‘mindless and heartless killing machine.’ He questioned the government’s right to enter someone’s home and kill a pet, emphasizing that even if owning a pet squirrel is illegal, killing Peanut instead of simply releasing him into the forest was a brutal and unnecessary act.
The controversy surrounding Peanut’s death has ignited a debate about animal rights, government overreach, and the role of social media in public outcry. It remains to be seen if this tragedy will lead to changes in how authorities handle similar situations in the future.
