Throughout his tenure as president, Barack Obama has repeatedly stepped out of the box and made moves unlike any other man to occupy the Oval Office before him, and his latest maneuver continues that tradition.
NBC recently announced that President Obama will explore the Alaskan terrain in an upcoming episode of “Running Wild with Bear Grylls” in an effort to help shine a light on the effects of climate change in the area.
Grylls called the president’s bluff by tweeting a quote from his weekly address that stated “As long as I’m president, America will lead the world to meet the threat of climate change,” and invited him to be a guest on the show. Always up for a challenge and never one to back down, the president graciously accepted Grylls’ challenge.
Though his appearance is for a good cause, not all are happy about his involvement with the show. Shortly after NBC’s announcement, People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals released a statement criticizing Grylls.
“Bear Grylls’ shows are known as the bottom of the barrel in demeaning sexist, speciesist, and who knows what other “-ist” TV reality shows — and that’s certainly saying something,” said PETA’s president. Ingrid Newkirk. “These internationally condemned programs, on which women have been bullied into slitting a baby pig’s throat and eating a mouse soaked in urine, are 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.”
Other guests on Grylls’ show this season have included Kate Winslet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is slated to appear on the Sept. 7 season finale of the program.
No air date has been given for President Obama’s episode of “Running Wild with Bear Grylls.”
