Robert Irwin returned home to Australia on Saturday after threatening to sue Pauline Hanson over a satirical cartoon.
The 20-year-old conservationist was accompanied by his mother, Terri Irwin, when he landed at Brisbane Airport.
The television personality appeared somber as he left the terminal and loaded his luggage into a waiting car.
Robert kept his eyes on the crowd as he left the airport with a large amount of luggage.
The young star has been embroiled in controversy as Hanson remains steadfast in her refusal to remove a satirical cartoon about Robert after he threatened legal action.
Robert Irwin (pictured) returned home to Australia on Saturday after threatening to sue Pauline Hanson over a satirical cartoon
The 20-year-old conservationist was accompanied by his mother, Terri Irwin, when he landed at Brisbane Airport
Senator Hanson’s animated video series ‘PleaseExplain’ featured a likeness of the youngest Irwin alongside the famous cartoon dog Bluey in the final episode earlier this month.
The episode, entitled ‘The state of Queensland‘, satirically shows Irwin and Bluey exploring the state after the pair were unveiled as the faces of their new $9.2 million tourism campaign.
However, just hours after the video was published, FC Lawyers sent a cease and desist order on Irwin’s behalf to StepMates Studios, the series’ production team.
Ny Breaking Australia understands FC Lawyers has set a deadline of 5pm on Monday, June 17 to remove the videos from all social media platforms.
The television personality appeared somber as he left the terminal and loaded his luggage into a waiting car
Robert kept his eyes on the crowd as he left the airport with a large amount of luggage
The young star is embroiled in controversy as Hanson remains steadfast in her refusal to remove a satirical cartoon about Robert after he threatened legal action
But Senator Hanson has refused to comply, instead calling on the wildlife warrior to see the funny side of the video, which has now been viewed more than half a million times.
“I can confidently say that we will not be removing the episode and I hope Robert decides to lighten it up a bit,” she wrote on social media.
Senator Hanson added: “I look forward to the day when Robert and I can have a good laugh about this and turn our attention to making Queensland a better state.”
Her lawyers described the threatened legal action in a letter on Monday as ‘abuse’ and ‘nonsensical’.
It comes as a top lawyer encouraged Irwin to follow Senator Hanson’s advice to ‘cheer up’ as he had ‘absolutely’ no chance of success with the looming defamation case.
The episode, titled ‘The State of Queensland’, satirically shows Irwin and Bluey exploring the state after the pair were unveiled as the faces of their new $9.2 million tourism campaign.
Ny Breaking Australia understands FC Lawyers has set a deadline of 5pm on Monday 17 June to remove the videos from all social media platforms
Justin Quill, media and litigation partner at Thomson Greer Laywers, said it was “obvious this is a joke”.
“I don’t think it’s defamatory in the first place and even if it is, I think there are two very obvious defenses: one is an opinion and the other is a political discussion,” he told Today.
“I doubt it will go to trial.”
Be that as it may, One Nation chief of staff James Ashby confirmed to Ny Breaking Australia that he had engaged defamation expert Sue Chrysanthou SC.
Senator Hanson (pictured) has refused to comply but has called on the wildlife warrior to see the funny side of the video, which has now been viewed more than half a million times.
Ny Breaking Australia approached FC Lawyers for comment.
In the episode, enthusiastic Irwin character Bluey tries to show all the positive things the Sunshine State has to offer.
But the pair are confronted with exactly the same problems that residents there struggle with every day.
The duo at one point mistake a long queue at famed Movie World theme park for a rental inspection, highlighting Queensland’s dire housing crisis.
They are also targeted by foul-mouthed delinquents who steal their car and ‘bash’ Bluey.
When he is taken to hospital, they are told there will be a wait of ‘six months’.
The Firefighter Senator’s YouTube series included an episode satirically portraying Irwin and the ABC children’s cartoon character Bluey (pictured)
The episode ends with a somber Irwin saying, “I can’t believe this is the state of Queensland”.
On Monday, Hanson said the episode “highlights the struggles many Queenslanders face as a result of the serious failure of the Miles Labor state government”.
She added: “We will not allow that message to be shut down.”
Ordinary Australians have since spoken out, with some calling Irwin a ‘sook’ who needs to ‘grow up’, while some have defended him and condemned Hanson.
“Your father would [have] I laughed a lot at Pauline’s cartoon. Grow up, stop being a snowflake!” someone said.
‘I can’t believe Robert Irwin is threatening One Nation with legal action over a (fantastic) satirical cartoon. How pathetic and un-Australian. Develop a sense of humor, mate,” wrote another.
Ordinary Australians have since spoken out, with some calling Irwin a ‘sook’ who needs to ‘grow up’, while some have defended him and condemned Hanson.
“Robert Irwin has very thin skin, he needs to laugh,” a third person commented.
‘Robert Irwin doesn’t seem to have thought this through. Taking action not only made it trending on
Others focused on Hanson and defended Irwin.
“It’s Pauline Hanson who is the politician and she has a reputation for taking others to court when they are offended,” one person wrote.
“She likes to dish it out, but she can’t stand what it will cost her at the ballot box!”
Another added: ‘What about when Pauline Hanson threatened legal action against Pauline Pantsdown?’