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'This fracking guy': Obama slammed for Netflix wildlife show after failing to protect environment

The former president, 60, will narrate Netflix's five-part series 'Our Great National Parks' which premieres April 13

Barack Obama raised eyebrows as he unveiled his new role as a nature documentary host for a Netflix series exploring the world's most notable national parks and the wildlife that thrives within them. 

The former president, 60, will narrate Netflix's five-part series 'Our Great National Parks' that invites "viewers to celebrate and discover the power of our planet’s greatest national parks and wild spaces." The show -- which premieres April 13 -- comes from Higher Ground Productions, which the former first couple launched as part of a lucrative deal with Netflix in 2018. While it's unclear how much the Obamas were exactly paid as part of the deal, major producers like Shonda Rhimes and Ryan Murphy have received more than $100 million in their own respective partnerships with the streaming giant.

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"Spanning five continents, the series brims with wonder, humor, and optimism as each episode tells the story of a national park through the lives of its wildest residents — both big and exceptionally small — and explores our changing relationship with wilderness," according to the synopsis. 

The first trailer consists of two minutes of nature footage taken from across the planet. "A fish that can walk. Surfing hippos that want to catch the waves. Species found nowhere else on earth," Obama narrates. "Join me in this celebration of our planet's greatest national parks and wilderness," he continues. "Around the world, the more isolated the national park, the more unusual its creatures and the more extraordinary their behaviors. When humanity started to protect these wild places, we did not realize how important they would become. They’re a haven for endangered species, and a hotbed for scientific research."

The teaser shows different creatures, from whales and jellyfish to elephants and sloths. "This sloth has an entire micro-kingdom living in his fur," Obama explains. "Researching him will help fight cancer, malaria, and antibiotic-resistant superbugs. This sleepy sloth might just save us all. This is a journey through the natural wonders of our shared birthright," he adds. The series has been co-produced by Wild Space Productions and wildlife filmmaker James Honeyborne of BluePlanet II fame.

That said, Obama sparked quite the backlash with the new trailer for his nature series, with many accusing the former president of hypocrisy and not doing enough during his tenure.

"Really!! This guy is about nature???? The guy that opened fracking like crazy. Open up the artic for drilling 2 times. This guy, is about nature??????" one tweeted.

"Wow, this 'nature' thing seems pretty awesome and important to preserve. if only there was a person with enough political power and authority to enact environmental protection policies," another wrote.

"It's nice that Obama is documenting these animals before the pro-fossil fuel policy line he helped push for 8 years wipes them all out," someone else added.

"Obama bombed a hospital that’s the doc the people need to see," another alleged, referring to the Kunduz hospital airstrike on October 3, 2015.
 
 

Some fans of Obama, however, couldn't wait to stream the series hosted by their favorite president.

"Looking at his face and hearing his voice just gave me a huge dopamine hit," one wrote.

"Exactly! That mellifluous voice, serenity, and confidence. Still got it!" another gushed.

"I will be watching the shit out of this," someone else added.