Louisiana governor Jeff Landry slams ‘woke’ backlash to controversial live tiger at LSU-Alabama game

After a live tiger was on the sidelines of LSU’s football stadium for the first time in over nine years on Saturday, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has slammed the ‘woke’ backlash. 

Landry had been championing the return of a live mascot to Tiger Stadium this season, with LSU obliging for Saturday’s blowout loss to Alabama. 

Animal-rights groups and some fans have panned the decision, while others, including Landry have defended the practice in the name of tradition and being unique. 

LSU’s live mascot tradition ended in 2015, with Mike the Tiger now situated outside the stadium. The live tiger making it inside the Baton Rouge venue was a rental from Florida. 

‘I had more people come up to me, and they remembered Mike the Tiger more than some of the great plays in Tiger Stadium,’ Landry said on Monday, per The Advocate. 

‘And they grew up as children seeing this. It’s about tradition. At the end of the day, these woke people have tried to take tradition out of this country. It’s tradition that built this country.’ 

The return of the live tiger did not inspire LSU to victory, getting blown out by Alabama 42-13 and essentially ending any hopes of a College Football Playoff appearance and a national-championship run. 

‘Our tiger, our live tiger, unfortunately, disappointingly, was the only tiger who showed up Saturday. I’m sorry,’ Landry added. 

LSU has not said whether a live tiger will return to insider the stadium for either of the team’s remaining home games against Vanderbilt or Oklahoma, taking place on the final two Saturdays of the month. 

The controversy will be sure to continue if another four-legged caged predator is wheeled into Tiger Stadium. 

‘I’m going to tell you something. This is about tradition. And the thing about tradition is about respecting those who came before you,’ Landry continued.