Posted on 07/14/2026 7:41:52 AM PDT by DFG
Two dim-witted wannabe influencers are being investigated after going wildly viral for filming themselves stroking alligators in Florida — just days after a swimmer was killed by one.
“Come with us to pet alligators,” TikTokker Kileigh Rose wrote of the death-defying foolishness her and a friend reckoned would be part of a fun “Steve Irwin summer.”
One clip shows the young women paddling on Silver Springs State Park in a small, clear canoe when one of them puts her hand in the water, rubbing her hand along the alligator’s back, the Orlando Sentinel reported of the footage that was deleted after racking up 2.1 million views and a flurry of outrage.
“Did you get that? I just pet the s–t out of him,” the foolhardy kayaker said with a smile.
Another clip — seen an astonishing 21 million times — showed an alligator thrashing around near their small canoe.
“F–k!” the TikTokker’s friend shouted as the gator splashed dangerously close, as Kileigh screamed in terror from a paddleboard.
The Florida Wildlife Commission is now investigating the footage, with possible punishment of a $500 fine or even 60 days in jail for petting alligators, which is considered harassment.
The baffling video went viral just days after at least three terrifying alligator attacks — including the horrific mauling of hiker Brittany Clark, also in Florida.
Clark, 31, was ambushed on June 28 while swimming in the Econlockhatchee River at Little Big Econ State Forest, around 90 miles from where the TikTokkers filmed their crazy content.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim

"A bikini-clad influencer was seen petting an alligator while kayaking in Florida."
That’s why I don’t count on dim-witted “influencers” to influence me. That’s my job when I need to be “influenced”.
Anything for 15 minutes of fame and 100 more “friends” on social media.
Dont worry, when she loses that left hand, she’ll be all right.
I hope the trend catches on for people influenced by these challenges. It will be good for the gene pool.
Morons, worse than that they vote.
Ridiculous.
And tasty for the gators.
“Dim-witted influencers filmed themselves petting alligators days after deadly attack”. Evidently, they are so dim-witted they don’t realize alligators can get mean.
I wonder if vegans taste better? Probably not. Fatties are tasty.
Very.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Big time.
What drugs were these influencers on?!
Stupid is supposed to hurt right?
They have “Winners of the Darwin Award” written all across their faces.
Not everyone who vies for a Darwin Award gets one. However these retarded influencers do know that some people are intriged by their madness and will click on their sites. The more clicks the more money they will receive. Until they do get their Darwin awards and then there will be far fewer clicks.
Stupid is as stupid does.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.