Robert Irwin weighs in on '100 men vs. 1 gorilla' debate
Photo: AFP
Animal conservationist and TV personality Robert Irwin has weighed in on a viral social media debate asking who would win in a hypothetical battle: 100 unarmed men or one silverback gorilla.
Robert Irwin weighs in on the “100 men vs. 1 gorilla” debate. pic.twitter.com/tYKOfWBdx5
The 21-year-old son of wildlife legends Steve and Terri Irwin posted a TikTok video on May 5 responding to the popular online question, saying he had been asked about it “so much in the last week.” “I cannot believe I am weighing in on this right now,” he said at the start of the clip.
Irwin acknowledged the silverback gorilla’s formidable strength but admitted that the large number of humans complicates the answer. “Gorillas are strong, mate. Like, really strong. But it’s 100 people. I’m not sure,” he said.
Rather than focus on the fight itself, Irwin redirected the discussion to a broader point about conservation. “How many people does it take to save gorillas? That’s the question we should be asking,” he said, adding that fighting an endangered species “just doesn’t sit right” with him.
He also noted that gorillas are generally peaceful unless provoked. “They kind of just keep to themselves,” he explained. “They’ll defend themselves... but if they don’t have a reason, they just do their thing.”
Closing the video, Irwin added, “We don’t need to fight gorillas. Maybe let’s just let this one remain a mystery.”
Fans praised his thoughtful take, with one TikTok user commenting, “100 men vs. 1 Robert Irwin—I’m betting on Robert.”