not sure if this posted but.....

It was the story ? and photo ? that bit the "Crocodile Hunter."

Animal Planet star Steve Irwin drew international ire after holding his infant son close to a 13-foot crocodile.

AP Photo/Channel 7 via APTN

 

Aussie croc expert and Animal Planet star Steve Irwin provoked international outrage over the weekend after feeding a 13-foot crocodile while holding his month-old son, Robert. (Related item: See footage of the incident)

 

In an interview with Australia's Sunday Telegraph, Irwin angrily rejected comparisons to Michael Jackson, who dangled his baby son over a balcony in Germany in November 2002.

 

"To hear people say that it was a publicity stunt, that I'm just like Michael Jackson, well, it just tears me up. It makes me sick to my stomach to be compared in that way," he said.

 

"I would never, ever put (his son) in any danger, not in a million years," said Irwin, 41.

 

The incident, captured on Australian television, occurred Friday at Irwin's Australia Zoo reptile park in Beerwah, north of Brisbane. Viewers jammed phone lines to complain, and child welfare groups said Irwin had endangered his son.

 

But police and the acting premier of Queensland, Terry Mackenroth, said no charges would be filed.

 

Animal Planet posted a statement on its Web site: "Animal Planet does not support any activity that intentionally places a child in harm's way. Based on the footage we have seen, we believe a mistake was made. That said, we know from the many years we have worked with Steve that his family is the most important thing in his life and he takes his role as a father very seriously."

 

Irwin and his wife, Terri, also have a 5-year-old daughter, Bindi. In defending his actions, Irwin told the Telegraph: "My kids are just like me, growing up at the zoo."

 

As he held the baby in one arm and dangled a chicken in front of the croc with the other, Irwin told Friday's crowd: "He's 1-month-old, so it's about time Bob got out there and did his first croc demo."

 

usatoday.com

the media will find anyway to make a great person like steve irwin look like bad. It's what makes news. He grew up the same way from what I understand. Screw the world, Steve kicks ass.