Controversial YouTuber turned boxer turned WWE wrestler Logan Paul responded to accusations of abandoning his pet pig Pearl out in a field.
The content creator with over 23 million YouTube followers found himself in the midst of controversy when a TikTok video revealed the employees from The Gentle Barn animal sanctuary found Pearl alone next to a dead pig with a "life-threatening infection" in her uterus that has since healed.
It didn't take long for the internet to determine the pig once belonged to Paul, which the sanctuary addressed without mentioning his name.
"From what we've been told, it's believed she was purchased originally from a breeder by an influencer."
They added:
"People often buy 'mini pigs' or 'teacup pigs' for clout online, believing they will stay small. When they inevitably grow very large and have many unexpected needs, they're sadly discarded."
Here is the animal rescue's viral TIkTok.
@thegentlebarn Pearl was found alone in a field next to another pig who had passed away. She came to us with tattered ears and a potentially life-threatening infection in her uterus that has since been healed. She's clearly been through so much trauma that we can't begin to imagine, but she's now safe with us at The Gentle Barn. From what we've been told, it's believed she was purchased originally from a breeder by an influencer. People often buy "mini pigs" or “teacup pigs” for clout online, believing they will stay small. When they inevitably grow very large and have many unexpected needs, they're sadly discarded. While we don't know everything she's been through in her past, we know her life is now filled with friends, nutritious foods, the highest quality care, and so much love. #pigrescue #animalrescuestory #abandonedanimals #pigsoftiktok #farmanimalrescue #thegentlebarn
After The Gentle Barn's video went viral, Paul claimed there was more to the story.
He took to Twitter and stated that re-homed Pearl at an "amazing" ranch in Santa Clarita, California because he was unable to take her with him when he moved to Puerto Rico.
Another one...youtu.be
Paul alleged Pearl lived at the ranch for 10 months but was re-homed again to a farmer across the street when the owner sold the property .
Paul claimed this happened unbeknownst to him.
Paul Todd TMZ the previous owner of the ranch to which Paul re-homed Pearl moved to Nevada and was unable to take the animal with them.
"That ranch-owner, or homeowner, gave Pearl to the farmer across the street."
"To my understanding, that farmer called Gentle Barn to come and pick her up."
You can watch TMZ's interview, here.
Logan Paul Says His Pig Wasn't 'Irresponsibly Rehomed' Before Gentle Barn Rescue | TMZyoutu.be
Social media users weighed in after Paul's explanation.
Some, however, remained unmoved by his side of the story.
Suggestions were made.
According to The Gentle Barn, Pearl is being well taken care of.
They wrote in the TikTok video's caption:
"While we don't know everything she's been through in her past, we know her life is now filled with friends, nutritious foods, the highest quality care, and so much love."
Paul is best known for his bad behavior.
His numerous controversies included a December 2017 trip to Japan, where he visited the Aokigahara "suicide forest" and filmed the body of a suicide victim and uploaded the footage to his YouTube channel.
As a result Paul was dropped from platforms, demonetized on others and faced widespread backlash.
