PETA takes aim at GoDaddy CEO over video

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - Animal rights activists are taking aim at the CEO of Scottsdale-based GoDaddy.com .

A video Bob Parsons reportedly posted shows him shooting an elephant on a hunting trip in Africa.

The video has many people outraged, but Parsons is standing by his decision.

Parson's was on a hunting trip in Zimbabwe three weeks ago when this video was shot.

See below to watch the video (Warning: some might find the video disturbing)

It begins by showing damage to some crops supposedly caused by elephants.

The hunting party waits until nightfall before setting out on their search.

Late that night they locate the elephants and open fire, killing a bull elephant while the rest of the heard runs away from them.

Parsons then poses with a few pictures with his quarry.

The video then cuts to the next day where villagers, wearing GoDaddy hats, butcher the elephant for its meat.

Animal rights activists are quite upset over this and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals , or PETA, has issued a statement:

"I am writing to present you with PETA's first-ever scummiest CEO of the year award (your certificate is on the way). You deserve the award for your egregious disregard for the life of the elephant you shot and killed for your personal enjoyment. Such behavior only shows a poverty of understanding and a deep insecurity, perhaps in your own masculinity. Nonlethal methods are available to protect crops from elephants left hungry because of their disappearing habitat."

Bob Parsons fires back saying, "You are completely misinformed. Elephants in Africa, especially in the Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa corridor exist in tremendous numbers. They are in absolutely no danger of becoming extinct. The bigger problem is that there is way too many of them."

Parsons issued the following statement in response to PETA Wednesday:

I understand PETA has an agenda, but I refuse to go along with their extortion-style practice.

Of course, I believe they have the right to register their domain name wherever they wish.

But it is unfortunate to see PETA misconstrue the story with emotion and inaccuracies, threaten a company because its CEO doesn't share PETA's position and then solicit charity donations as they did in a letter to me yesterday. Will we donate to PETA in return for their business? Absolutely not.

I stand by my decision to help African villagers. I believe elephant management is beneficial. I have the support of the people who really matter in this situation, the families of Zimbabwe -- people who need help to survive. I have the support of tribal leaders and the government.

The facts are what they are.

- Bob Parsons

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