The Influencer Who Took A Baby Wombat From Its Mother Has Broken Her Silence

This is American influencer Sam Jones.

Earlier this week, Sam posted and deleted a video during a trip to Australia in which she apparently took a baby wombat from its mother on the side of the road before returning it. You can watch the video below:

The video almost immediately sparked outrage across Australia — and, honestly, for good reason. As this article points out, when a baby wombat is taken from its mother, there's the chance that the mother will then reject the baby upon reunion — which, obviously, is not good for the baby.

So, yeah, people are pissed. Sam basically fled Australia after her visa status in the country was threatened, and government officials weighed in on the offense. “To take a baby wombat from its mother, and clearly causing distress from the mother, is just an outrage,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

Tony Burke — Australia's Home Affairs Minister — had even stronger words for Sam. “There’s never been a better day to be a baby wombat in Australia,” he said. “I can’t wait for Australia to see the back of this individual, I don’t expect she will return."

Of course, anyone who's followed a "influencer does something wrong" narrative knows what comes next: The public apology. And so Sam has posted a doozy of a series of statements apologizing for the whole affair while defending herself in the process.

The first statement was mostly comprised of the "apology" portion, which you can read right here. Basically, Sam claims that she actually picked up the wombat so that it "didn't get hit" by a passing car. “I have done a great deal of reflection on this situation and have realized that I did not handle this situation as best as I should have,” she said. “My only intent was to prevent these amazing animals from being hit...I have learned from this situation, and am truly sorry for the distress I have caused.”

Here's the second part of the statement, in which Sam claims that "Things, dear reader, are not as they seem." She goes on to claim that "the Australian government allows and permits the slaughter of wombats" every year, and alleges that "the prime minister wishes harm on me for picking up a wombat." Again, you can read the entire thing below — and you might as well.

Let this be a lesson to all: Don't pick up baby wombats!