A young turtle from a Canadian children’s book series has been embroiled in international controversy after the US Department of Defense used the character in a cartoon about killing narco terrorists.
The publisher of the “Franklin the Turtle” books is criticizing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for a social media post that showed the beloved children’s character shooting drug smugglers.
Publisher Kids Can Press said in a statement, “We strongly condemn any abusive, violent or unauthorized use of Franklin’s name or image.”
The publisher is not alone. Sabrina Carpenter criticized the White House on Tuesday for using her song in a video about deporting immigrants, saying it was “nasty and disgusting.”
“Don’t ever use me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda,” the singer posted.
In Franklin’s case, the cartoon posted on social media by Hegseth is a fake book cover depicting Franklin in a military helicopter firing a large weapon at alleged drug boats. The fake headline reads: “Franklin targets narco terrorists.”
The photo comes amid a series of US attacks on alleged Venezuelan drug boats since the beginning of September. The Trump administration says it is acting in self-defense by attacking boats carrying illegal drugs into the US.
Hegseth captioned the post: “For your Christmas wish list…”
Franklin, the 6-year-old cartoon turtle, is known for tackling everyday challenges, from learning to ride a bike to taking his first sleep.
He originated as the main character in the Canadian children’s book “Franklin the Turtle” and went on to star in numerous television shows, films, video games, and live productions.
“Franklin the Turtle is a beloved Canadian icon who has inspired generations of children and stands for kindness, empathy and inclusivity,” publisher Kids Can Press said in a statement. He said that such violent depictions “directly contradict these values”.
Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, said in a statement Monday night that “we doubt that Franklin wanted to join The Turtle drug cartel… or appreciate the kindness and sympathy of narco-terrorists”.
The artists credited with creating Franklin and writing his books did not respond to BBC requests for comment.
In September, Pokémon said it did not allow the use of its theme song and other footage in ICE deportation raid videos posted by the US government.
British singer Jess Glynn also criticized White House officials in July after they used a viral Jet2holiday ad featuring her song in a video promoting deportations.
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