PETA slams Obama plan to go on NBC reality show

UPDATED: Barack Obama will get some tips on how to survive in the woods by teaming up with Bear Grylls for an NBC reality special. The president will tape an episode of Running Wild with Bear Grylls during his upcoming visit to Alaska.

According to NBC: “Obama will meet with Grylls while visiting Alaska to observe the effects of climate change on the area. The two will then come together in the Alaskan Wilderness. President Obama will become the first U.S. president to receive a crash course in survival techniques from Bear Grylls. The visit will be taped and aired on NBC later this year.”

But at least one organization isn’t too happy about the plan: PETA issued a statement condemning the announcement. “Bear Grylls’ shows are known as the bottom of the barrel in demeaning, sexist, species-ist, and who knows what other ‘-ist’ TV reality shows — and that’s certainly saying something,” writes PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “This internationally condemned program, on which women have been bullied into slitting a baby pig’s throat and eating a mouse soaked in urine, is the last place for the 44th president to be seen. There are far better ways to get the message about global climate change out than by appearing on this disgusting show.”

Now in its second season on NBC, Running Wild with Bear Grylls follows the survival expert as he takes American celebrities – including Kate Winslet, Drew Brees, Kate Hudson, Zac Efron, Michelle Rodriguez and Channing Tatum – on one-on-one adventures that test their survival skills and push them to their mental and physical limits.

Grylls has starred in several wilderness reality shows. He was a soldier in the British Special Forces and went on to become one of the youngest climbers ever to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

The Obama episode of Running Wild will air later this year.

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