NEWS|BBC

[Alligator 'gender reveal party' causes controversy]

(Watch the video---http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43568628)

The internet is awash with gender reveal videos, many garnering millions of views. However, one such video with millions of views in just a few days has caused controversy online.

Gender reveal parties are a modern trend where expectant parents tell family and friends their baby's biological sex, often in creative ways involving pink and blue colours.

However, the Kliebert family's unique gender reveal video, involving the family's pet alligator and a watermelon, has provoked worries online over safety and animal protection.

In a Facebook video which has been viewed seven million times, Mike Kliebert, who runs an alligator farm, is seen placing a watermelon into the mouth of Sally, a family pet, in front of a crowd of people.

When the animal snaps its jaws shut, the watermelon explodes to reveal blue jelly - signifying the baby will be a boy.

The assembled group reacts with cheers of delight and, after the video went viral, many thousands of people congratulated the family on social media.

However, the video has also angered a lot of people who have strongly expressed their annoyance an alligator was used, calling it "hideous" and "cruel".

Skip Twitter post by @marcosstaga

Surely this is a mild form of abuse? Treating that alligator like a circus animal. I hate people who do stuff like this thinking it’s clever or funny.— Marcus (@marcosstaga) March 28, 2018

End of Twitter post by @marcosstaga

A number of people expressed their concern over part of the video showing a child rolling on the floor beside the alligator.

At this point in the video Kliebert presses down on the creature's head to stop it from moving towards the child.

Some online comments called the event "animal abuse," and journalist Yashar Ali wished "the gator would have bitten his hand".

One reply to Ali asked when people will "stop using and abusing animals for their amusement".

Skip Twitter post by @yashar

They used this poor alligator for a gender reveal. Wish the gator would have bitten his hand...he deserved it.

End of Twitter post by @yashar

Kliebert has responded to the criticism he and his family received and addresses the "bad thoughts" people had about the gender reveal in a follow-up video .

In the later clip Kliebert introduces his son Blaze, who was the child rolling on the floor in the original clip, and explains there were "at least a dozen people there that are gator handlers" to make the situation safe.

While Kliebert goes on to say accidents can happen, admitting that the alligator in the background of the video has bitten him three times, he maintains that he is "world leading" alligator handler and that his family provide a sanctuary for the reptiles.

When asked what he thinks about some of the negative comments made about the family's video, Blaze concludes they are "very mean".

Skip Facebook post by Mike

For the ones who question what my Family and I do for a living. Come out to Kliebert’s Gator Tours and learn about it. Please Share!

Posted by Mike Kliebert on Wednesday, 28 March 2018

Report

End of Facebook post by Mike

And others agreed, with one reply to Kliebert's posts calling the original video "the best gender reveal I've ever seen".

Meanwhile, some people took the opportunity to talk about other gender reveal parties, such as this surprise reveal from The Graham Norton Show.