LONDON – Ricky Gervais has started the hashtag #karmadillo to draw attention to a bizarre incident where a man injured himself while trying to shoot an armadillo.
The man was treated for a minor injury to the jaw, according to USA Today, after one of his bullets ricocheted off the animal's armoured shell and hit him in the face.
The news broke Saturday in the UK, and the British comedian – an active campaigner for animal rights who was recently outspoken about the killing of Cecil the lion – was quick to share his thoughts.
Texas man shoots armadillo, bullet ricochets back into his face http://t.co/1TNl5y3yVN karmadillo!— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) August 1, 2015
I like to think that armadillo is in a bar showing off to lady armadillos about being shot. "The other dude's in hospital."— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) August 1, 2015
Meanwhile the Texan guy has to explain he lost a gunfight with an unarmed armadillo.— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) August 1, 2015
"I just told him to put the gun down or one of us was gonna get hurt." #karmadillo pic.twitter.com/bBGNXs9fZA— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) August 1, 2015
Others were quick to get behind the hashtag.
@rickygervais This is how I imagined it... pic.twitter.com/qCKySh7Vqu— Trudie Cook (@CookTrudie) August 1, 2015
That's awful, why would anyone want to Harmadillo? @rickygervais— Spot or Not (@Spot_or_Not) August 1, 2015
The best part of this story is the #karmadillo hashtag. https://t.co/hwODPrxyIU— Kent Peterson (@kentsbike) August 2, 2015
#karmadillo is my new favourite hashtag. :) https://t.co/Az6WZIYCiH— Johnny Two Hats (@Johnny_Spacey) August 2, 2015
@CBCNews @rickygervais #karmadillo is what happens when anyone tries to #harmadillo— Sharon Forbes (@BlondeMzungu) August 2, 2015
Man goes to shoot armadillo. Bullet ricochets, hits man. The animal kingdom strikes back. When were you last hit hard by karma? #Karmadillo— Absolute Radio (@absoluteradio) August 2, 2015
#Karmadillo is my word of the day. Don't shoot armadillos.— Auntie B (@b_auntie) August 1, 2015
#Karmadillo Come at me bro pic.twitter.com/JV58m80xG3— Tony Man™ (@MrTonyMan) August 1, 2015