Georges St. Pierre Faces Backlash After Shooting Bear on First Hunt

Georges St. Pierre: Who Is He?

A Legend with a Gentle Image

Georges St. Pierre, or “GSP” as he’s affectionately known, has long been celebrated not just for his unparalleled success inside the octagon, but also for the humility and discipline he’s shown outside of it.¹

The Canadian MMA icon is a two-division UFC champion, a Hall of Famer, and often placed at the top of “Greatest of All Time” discussions in mixed martial arts.

Yet despite all the accolades, what has made GSP truly beloved is his calm demeanor, thoughtful interviews, and sportsmanlike behavior throughout his career.

Unlike many of his contemporaries, St. Pierre rarely engaged in trash talk or flamboyant antics. He let his skills do the talking, and in doing so, became a role model to aspiring martial artists around the world.

Which is why his recent social media post involving a black bear hunt took many fans by surprise—and sparked a firestorm of reactions online.

Before tonight, I had never killed a fly. This is proof that we are living in a simulation. pic.twitter.com/DBpaXMexXv

— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) June 14, 2025

GSP’s Surprising Post: “Proof We Are Living in a Simulation”

On his first hunting trip, Georges St. Pierre shared a photo on X (formerly Twitter) standing next to a black bear he had killed.

Alongside the image, he wrote:

“Before tonight, I had never killed a fly. This is proof that we are living in a simulation.”

The caption was cryptic, ironic, and almost philosophical in tone. Known for his interest in science and philosophy—GSP has previously talked about simulation theory and his love of science fiction—it was clear the caption was meant to add a deeper or humorous layer to the experience.

Still, the image of the bear overshadowed the caption for many. While hunting is legal in many parts of Canada and considered a tradition by some, it remains a highly polarizing activity.

Fans were quick to flood the comments section with reactions ranging from enthusiastic praise to outright condemnation.

Georges St. Pierre: From Celebration to Outrage

As expected, the responses to GSP’s hunting post were sharply divided. Some fans admired his courage to try something new and saw it as a personal milestone.²

Others viewed it as a betrayal of the compassionate, respectful figure they believed him to be.

Supportive Fans: “Congrats Georges!”

A section of the MMA community stood by the former champion. They pointed out that hunting, especially in regulated environments, is a traditional and sometimes necessary practice.

Supporters left comments like:

• “Congrats Georges! Nice bear.”

• “People forget hunting can be a part of wildlife management.”

• “He’s a human like the rest of us. Let him live.”

These comments reflect the viewpoint that ethical hunting is often misunderstood. For some fans, the issue was not moral but cultural. Hunting is part of many Canadian rural traditions, and Georges—despite being a global icon—is still a man from Québec.

Critics: “Disgusting. A Murderer.”

The backlash, however, was swift and emotional. Many long-time fans expressed disappointment, calling the act “disgusting,” “barbaric,” and “sad.”

The idea that someone so graceful and disciplined would kill an animal, let alone a bear, didn’t sit right with them.

One viral comment read:

“You’re disgusting. A murderer.”

Another said:

“I grew up idolizing you, but this? This is beyond disappointing.”

These sentiments weren’t necessarily about legalities, but about perceived morality. For many, hunting is incompatible with compassion. Especially for someone who had previously spoken about avoiding harm—even to a fly—the bear photo felt like a contradiction.

GSP vs. Khabib: A Playful Yet Provocative Jab

In true MMA internet fashion, humor and rivalry found their way into the debate.

One fan joked:

“GSP killed Khabib.”

The joke references a famous video of Khabib Nurmagomedov as a child wrestling a bear—a clip that has become part of MMA folklore. While the comment was clearly in jest, it adds another layer to how fans digest and reinterpret fighter behavior.

In a sport built on alpha personas and competitive machismo, symbolic acts—like hunting a bear—can take on mythical proportions.

Hunting and Celebrity: A PR Minefield

This isn’t the first time a celebrity has sparked outrage by posting a hunting photo. Over the years, various figures—from athletes to actors—have faced massive backlash for similar posts.

The public reaction is often shaped not just by the act itself, but by the image the person has cultivated.

In GSP’s case, the dissonance between his gentle public persona and the act of hunting an animal was what fueled much of the uproar. For someone who once said he’d rather avoid killing a fly, the bear kill felt jarring.

Yet context is key. In regulated hunting environments, population control, sustainability, and native traditions often play a significant role. The issue isn’t always black and white. But in the court of public opinion, optics matter more than nuance.

Georges St. Pierre: Perspectives on Hunting

In many Canadian provinces, black bear hunting is legal, licensed, and part of conservation efforts.³

Regulated hunting is used to manage animal populations, reduce disease, and sometimes prevent overgrazing or human-animal conflict.

Still, the morality of hunting is subjective. Animal rights activists argue that in a world with modern alternatives, killing for sport—or even meat—is no longer necessary.

Others counter that ethical hunting, done with respect and purpose, is no worse than buying factory-farmed meat at a grocery store.

So when Georges St. Pierre hunted a bear, was it immoral—or just uncomfortable for some to witness? The answer depends largely on one’s personal beliefs.

Simulation Theory and Satirical Irony

It’s also worth examining GSP’s curious caption: “This is proof that we are living in a simulation.” For those unfamiliar, the “simulation hypothesis” posits that we may be living in an artificial or computer-generated reality.

While it’s a fringe idea popularized by philosophers like Nick Bostrom and entertainers like Elon Musk, GSP has expressed interest in these theories in past interviews.

By combining an emotionally charged act (hunting) with a tongue-in-cheek philosophical statement, GSP may have been attempting satire or ironic commentary.

But satire doesn’t always land well—especially when the image involves the death of a living creature.

The Price of Transparency in the Social Media Age

One of the biggest takeaways from this incident is the delicate tightrope public figures walk when sharing personal milestones online. Transparency, once praised as authenticity, can easily backfire.

St. Pierre likely posted the image as a personal achievement—perhaps even a moment of facing fears or connecting with nature.

But once it was online, it stopped being his moment and became public property for debate, judgment, and controversy.

This event underscores a broader cultural challenge: how much of our real selves can public figures safely share in an era of instantaneous outrage?