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Cincinnati Bengals trolled for wanting to win Super Bowl for Harambe: 'You guys killed him'

Harambe was shot and killed when it dragged a toddler who fell into the gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden

Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard wants to win the Super Bowl not just for the city of Cincinnati and his fans, but also for Harambe the gorilla. A 400-pound gorilla, Harambe was shot and killed when he dragged a toddler who fell into the enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden in 2016. The killing of the 17-year-old primate was criticized by a number of animal rights activists back at that time.

The incident, recorded on video, received massive international coverage and commentary. While the choice to use lethal force was questioned and criticized, many primatologists and conservationists said that the zoo really had no other choice. Harambe became the subject of Internet memes, songs, a video game, a statue and also received several tributes. The gorilla soon became a star on the Internet.

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During Hubbard's recent appearance on the 'Pardon My Take' podcast, Barstool Sports personality PFT Commenter asked him whether they indeed wanted to win for the gorilla. "Sweet Prince, I mean, that's our guy. That's our hero," Hubbard said. "I think that's known, kind of goes without saying. You know, we're doing this for him." Hubbard was reportedly at Ohio State when the incident took place at the zoo.

Harambe, born at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, in 1999, was named by Dan Van Coppenolle, a local area counselor. The gorilla was transferred to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden in 2014. 

'The city who killed him is playing in his honor?'

While some social media users appreciated the Bengals for their approach, there was no dearth of online trolling either. "Yes because winning a football game justifies the fact that there are still animals locked up in the Cincinnati Zoo…," one user wrote. "Shouldn’t Cincinnati winning be against Harambe since it was Cincinnati Zoo and city that killed him? Would love to hear some thoughts," wrote another. One user said, "If they're doing it for Harambe I hope that means they'll be making significant contributions towards wildlife conservation, or else they will have done nothing."

While one user wrote, "So the city who killed him is playing in his honor?? Nah. Rams will do it for Harambe", another said, "I hate these kinds of thing. You mean, had Harambe not been killed, you wouldn’t be competing? Just get ready, I’m pulling for you guys but the rams are Goooood". "I need you to understand that absolutely nobody is taking this serious, and that that’s the whole joke," one user commented.