Canada's Former 'First Lady' Destroys Cougar-Hunter With Emasculating Comment
By Mustafa GatollariNov. 18 2019, Updated 2:37 p.m. ET
Laureen Harper is the wife of Canada's former Prime Minister Stephen Harper and although she comes from a family of hunters, she is absolutely disgusted by the idea of someone hunting for sport.
Lots of people hunt animals like deer and elk, then use the meat and hides to feed and clothe themselves or sell it to specialty meat markets. But there are some animals people think it's fun to kill just... to kill them I guess? I am not one to yuck anybody's yum usually, but if your yum is killing for fun, I'm not sure I want to know you.
Something that Twitter saw on full display when Harper commented on Canadian TV Show Host Steven Ecklund's recent cougar hunt.
Online outrage after Canadian TV host kills cougar in northern Alberta https://t.co/OADQXEq2VJ pic.twitter.com/YMlePd48xy
— 660 NEWS Calgary (@660NEWS) December 21, 2017
People were shocked that Ecklund would proudly display his kill of the big cat.
This makes me so sad to see. What a beautiful animal. What's the purpose of this? I don't understand why someone would end a life just because they can.
— Abby (@_Jeenie_) December 21, 2017
It left many wondering what someone would gain from shooting down a defenseless animal in the first place, and what would the situation be like if the tables were turned.
We should be able to hunt the hunters. You know cull the population for natural balance.
— Stephen (@__EagleEyes__) December 21, 2017
Agreed don't get why hunters are so proud they killed an animal with a high powered weapon like they performed some great athletic feat. I guess that is why we don't like it.
— Gardner Mackay (@GardMackay) December 21, 2017
Harper's comments, however, were a bit more straightforward, delivering an emasculating insult directed right at Ecklund online on her Twitter account.
What a creep. Chasing a cougar with dogs until they are exhausted then shooting a scared, cornered and tired animal. Must be compensating for something, small penis probably.https://t.co/UspnQEdWdL
— Laureen Harper (@LaureenHarper) December 21, 2017
That's right, she went there.
Her response went viral, garnering over 16,000 likes and over 6,000 retweets, with tons of responses that sparked a conversation on the ethics of Ecklund's killing of the cougar.
Wife of former PM Stephen Harper, a hunter herself, shares her outrage over high profile cougar killing. https://t.co/mPLrtkOUtO
— Martin MacMahon (@martinmacmahon) December 21, 2017
Anyone who hunts in an age of mass meat production hunts for fun to some degree. You either agree with hunting or you don’t.
— Vince Roth (@oh_shart) December 21, 2017
Many of our greatest active conservationists are sport hunters and fishermen.
— Ray (@menard_ray) December 21, 2017
Harper clarified that she's not against hunting: she believes it's perfectly fine to hunt for purpose.
I come from a family that hunts and fishes. Learned to use every part of an animal. Killing for fun makes me sick.
— Laureen Harper (@LaureenHarper) December 21, 2017
She also pointed out that not all sport hunters are bad.
I agree. I am a huge fan of Ducks Unlimited. But how did blasting that beautiful healthy cat (not sure if it was male or pregnant female) help conservation? https://t.co/Ll1GFDc7M5
— Laureen Harper (@LaureenHarper) December 21, 2017
But again, what was the point of stalking and killing a big cat?
Thousands of Canadians will find themselves deeply confused after thinking "Yasss, Harper 👊" tonight https://t.co/NnVySMPbHa
— Robyn Urback (@RobynUrback) December 21, 2017
The sheer audacity of taking a picture with this beayrif creature is beyond comprehension!
— DeeZee (@dzzoom2_dan) December 21, 2017
Too bad the cat didn’t have a similar weapon with which to defend itself!!!
😡😡😡
Does it matter to you that Ecklund ate the meat and "used" the cougar he killed?
Maybe he should not have expressed relief/ release of the tension by smiling. Hunting culture exists in Canada - not mocking, not trivializing, never disrespectful and certainly not trophy hunting bravado. That way off life chafes with urban culture from time to time. Experience
— Unbridled (@Unbridled16) December 21, 2017
I don't know what it is about big cats that makes me not want to see them killed. Maybe it's because they're viewed as more "majestic" or are less prevalent in nature than, let's say, chickens or ducks. What do you think?