Arsenal's billionaire US owner PULLS controversial big game hunting from his new channel following backlash against 'sickening' footage

  • Stan Kroenke instructed the channel to remove some of its controversial content
  • My Outdoor TV says it will now remove videos of 'certain big game animals'
  • Comes after Kroenke faced huge backlash over the channel's launch in the UK 
  • One programme featured hunters taking down an endangered African elephant
  • Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is an Arsenal fan, said that he was 'disgusted'
  • Another showed a group of men shooting a lion dead before celebrating the kill 
  • League Against Cruel Sports branded the controversial platforms as 'sickening' 
  • The RSPCA and Animal Aid have also condemned the channel's launch in the UK
  • A spokesman from the organisation Viva said channel was the 'lowest of the low'

A 'sick' channel launched by Arsenal Football Club's owner which featured programmes of elephants and lions being hunted is removing some of its content.

Fans had been urged to boycott the club after Stan Kroenke's 'My Outdoor TV' (MOTV) platform, was launched in the UK.

The subscription service, which costs £7.50 a month, was slammed by animal rights groups and celebrities for showing 'big game' hunting — everything from elephants to antelopes killed for sport

Now, Mr Kroenke's Outdoor Sportsman Group which owns owns the channel, has been instructed by its billionaire owner to remove content featuring 'certain big game animals'.

Mr Kroenke's online-based video streaming service is already up and running in the US and was launched in the UK at Game Fair in Hertfordshire over the weekend

Mr Kroenke's online-based video streaming service is already up and running in the US and was launched in the UK at Game Fair in Hertfordshire

In a statement, Jim Liberatore, President and CEO of Outdoor Sportsman Group, said: 'While many on both sides of this issue have made their voices heard, and this content is only available through paid subscriptions, Stan Kroenke has directed us to remove all content related to those animals in light of the public interest.' 

Mr Liberatore also sought to distance Arsenal from the furore, saying that as a separate company 

He said: 'We deserve no credit when an Arsenal striker scores a goal. Arsenal deserves no criticism when we offer a programme with which some disagree.'

Jana Waller, a presenter of one of the shows on the channel, regularly posts pictures of herself posing with animals she has hunted 

Jana Waller, a presenter of one of the shows on the channel, regularly posts pictures of herself posing with animals she has hunted 

He added that while the channel's content decisions were made 'independently of our parent company... in this one instance, Mr Kroenke directed us to make the changes'.

Mr Liberatore added: 'He [Mr Kroenke] has a decades-long track record of environmental stewardship, working with conservationists, hydrologists, microbiologists, and others to responsibly manage habitat and enhance wildlife preservation.

'We also take conservation seriously, and dedicate programming to this issue and to anti-poaching efforts specifically. 

Presenter Ms Waller is pictured posing with a black bear that was shot dead during a hunting expedition. She is pictured right alongside another hunter posing with another hunted bear

Kroenke was slammed by animal rights groups. The channel claims to show 'ethical, fair chase and legal' hunting
Mr Kroenke is the owner of Arsenal Football Club as well as the Los Angeles Rams American football team

Kroenke was slammed by animal rights groups. The channel claims to show 'ethical, fair chase and legal' hunting. Phillipa King, chief operating officer of the League Against Cruel Sports said: 'Most people won't agree that trophy hunting is in any way ethical'

'I'm sure people won't like all the content on MOTV, but it won't be censored.

'On every film there's an explanation of what hunting does for the local community.'

Animal rights groups slammed MOTV and Mr Kroenke, who owns LA Rams NFL team, and there were calls for fans to boycott the football club.

Philippa King, Chief Operating Officer of the animal welfare charity said she welcomed Mr Kroenke's decision to cancel some of the content.

'I think Arsenal have just snatched victory from the jaws of defeat,' she said in a statement.

'Launching a TV channel which glorifies bloodsports was never going to be a good idea in a nation of animal lovers. 

'We asked Mr Kroenke to cancel his plan to show trophy hunting and that’s what he has done, so we thank him for it.'  

Jeremy Corbyn said: 'As an Arsenal fan I’m disgusted that Stan Kroenke is involved in such a brutal, unethical and unnecessary activity'

Jeremy Corbyn said: 'As an Arsenal fan I’m disgusted that Stan Kroenke is involved in such a brutal, unethical and unnecessary activity'

The Labour leader is pictured with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan outside the Barclays Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London

The Labour leader is pictured with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan outside the Barclays Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, himself an Arsenal fan, also waded into the controversy. 

He said last week: 'I’m appalled at the glorification of killing wild and rare animals on this TV channel. 

'As an Arsenal fan I’m disgusted that Stan Kroenke is involved in such a brutal, unethical and unnecessary activity

'This is not sport. Kroenke should stick to football if he wants to be involved in sport. 

'In my mind "blood sport" is a contradiction and there should be no place on television or anywhere else for it.'  

Taking to Twitter, ITV political editor Robert Peston commented: 'As an #Arsenal supporter I have to pay money to this person. I feel sick.'

Presenter Ben Fogle added: 'Boycott Arsenal for these comments.'

Robert Peston and Ben Fogle were among those who called for Arsenal fans to boycott the club

Robert Peston and Ben Fogle were among those who called for Arsenal fans to boycott the club

Dozens of other users have also voiced their objection to the channel's UK launch.

One wrote: 'I'm absolutely horrified. As a wildlife & nature photographer & supporter of @Arsenal this news is nothing short of shocking and sickening.'

Amie Christie added: 'How can this happen? What is wrong with people!?'

Another said: 'Despicable human beings.'

MOTV is part of the Outdoor Sportsman Group, which is owned by Kroenke Sports Entertainment. 

Some of the shows featured big game hunting and see huntsmen shoot bears, lions and even an endangered African elephant.

In one episode titled Dark Continent Quest, presenter Jana Waller uses a bow and arrow to take down a hartebeest in South Africa. 

'It's a good shot. Definitely, some liver and some lungs hit,' comments Waller's professional guide as they wait for the creature to bleed out.

Waller says: 'The shot was a little far back for me, but one shot did it,' says Miss Waller before holding up the animal's horns.  

'Shoot it!: An overly excited guide is heard encouraging the hunter to take the shot as he lines the lion up in his sights in one of the channel's shows

While some big game hunters also call themselves conservationists as well, animal charities say studies have debunked the claim that 'blood money' goes towards supporting conservation

While some big game hunters also call themselves conservationists as well, animal charities say studies have debunked the claim that 'blood money' goes towards supporting conservation

The hunters are seen congratulating one another and even shaking hands after shooting the lion dead

The hunters are seen congratulating one another and even shaking hands after shooting the lion dead

Those in favour of big game hunting claim the controversial bloodsports raise huge sums of cash for conversation. They say it draws in tourists to areas where wildlife is otherwise scarce. 

While MOTV insist the bloodsports are legal, animal rights and conservations groups had branded the channel 'sickening'.

Phillipa King, chief operating officer of the League Against Cruel Sports, said the Arsenal boss scored a 'massive own goal'.

'We're living in a world now where most people can see how brutal and shameful trophy hunting is, yet the Arsenal boss is choosing to launch his sick TV channel in the UK.

'The channel claims to show 'ethical, fair chase and legal' hunting. 

'Most people won't agree that trophy hunting is in any way ethical, and studies have debunked claims that most of the blood money goes towards supporting conservation.' 

In this clip which hunters can be seen releasing dogs from the rear of a truck as they pursue a bear which is hiding up a tree 

In this clip which hunters can be seen releasing dogs from the rear of a truck as they pursue a bear which is hiding up a tree 

Some of the shows' presenters described themselves as both hunters and conservationists. But the channel has been slammed by animal rights campaigners
The dogs are set loose to chase after a black bear

Some of the shows' presenters described themselves as both hunters and conservationists. But the channel has been slammed by animal rights campaigners 

A bear hides up a tree as it tries to evade advancing hunters and their dogs. The channel claims to show 'ethical, fair chase and legal' hunting

A bear hides up a tree as it tries to evade advancing hunters and their dogs. The channel claims to show 'ethical, fair chase and legal' hunting

'I'm not sure in what way an idiot with a gun against an elephant is a fair chase.

'And yes, the hunting they show might be legal – though if they start showing hunting in the UK they'll have to tread very carefully. 

'Hunts claim to be trail hunting when they chase foxes, stags and hares, but we've shown that the vast majority of trail hunting is just a false alibi for the actual hunting and killing of animals. 

'If this channel starts showing trail hunting, they'll be on very rocky ground.

'Mr Kroenke could do the world a great favour by stopping pedalling this kind of sickening TV and turning his focus on helping the animals he apparently likes to see killed.' 

Other people expressed their outrage on Twitter and said the boss should retract his statement

Other people expressed their outrage on Twitter and said the boss should retract his statement

Fiona Pereira, campaign manager at Animal Aid, commented:  ‘There’s nothing sporting or ethical about killing animals for pleasure. 

'Every animal, regardless of species, values his or her life as much as you or I value ours. 

'The notion of spending time and money in the pursuit of destroying another animal’s life, is warped beyond belief. 

'If people want to contribute to conservation schemes – ether financially or by volunteering, then they should do just that – and not expect to be able to exercise their blood lust in return.’ 

Mr Kroenke, whose estimated worth is £5.6billion, also owns the Los Angeles Rams American football team

Mr Kroenke, whose estimated worth is £5.6billion, also owns the Los Angeles Rams American football team

'An RSPCA spokesman added: 'We do not condone trophy hunting or hunting animals for "sport". 

'There is strong opposition around the world to the needless killing of these animals. 

'We hope people across the globe will continue to support animal welfare work internationally, as well as domestically in England and Wales where the RSPCA continues to help animals in need and protect them from cruelty and suffering.'

Mr Kroenke, whose estimated worth is £5.6billion, also owns the Los Angeles Rams American football team.

Under Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, the billionaire also owns the Denver Nuggets of the NBA, Colorado Avalanche of the NHL, Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer and Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League.

A PETA spokesman added: 'Unlike footballers, who spend years mastering their sport, there's no skill required to kill an animal who's simply trying to survive: it involves only the movement of a finger. 

'Except for those dead in heart and head, everyone understands that lions, elephants, deer, and other animals are feeling individuals, not simply bodies waiting for their heads to be shot off and displayed on a wall. 

'Stan Kroenke's attempt to profit from crude bloodlust will no doubt disgust Arsenal fans and players.' 

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.