Larsa Pippen’s visit to Tiger King star Doc Antle’s Myrtle Beach Safari prompts PETA letter to USDA

Larsa Pippen’s recent visit to Tiger King star Doc Antle’s Myrtle Beach Safari may have the animal trainer in hot water.

PETA has sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture asking them to investigate Doc over allegations that he had violated parts of the Animal Welfare Act during Larsa’s recent visit to his Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina (per TMZ.)

But Antle says everything was on the up-and-up, claiming Pippen was there shooting a PSA on wild tiger conservation and that he was completely compliant with USDA guidelines and recommendations.

Debbie Metzler, PETA’s Associate Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement, claimed that photos of Pippen’s visit clearly showed adult and juvenile tigers in direct public contact.

She went on to claim that the USDA told Antle photographing the public with large adult cats was illegal a full 15-years-ago. 

Metzler then asks why ‘USDA has apparently refused to take any meaningful action to prevent Antle from allowing these types of dangerous, direct contact stunts.’

Pointing out another vulnerability, PETA said that Larsa and family’s visit put the tigers and an infant chimpanzee at risk of contracting COVID-19. They also claimed the contact was another violation of the law.

Doc – born Kevin Antle – says that nothing sketchy was going on, however. He claims Larsa took a tour and visited with tiger cubs and primates before shooting footage for a PSA on wild tiger conservation.

According to Antle it was a closed set with strict protocols in compliance with USDA guidelines and recommendations.

Earlier this month the 46-year-old estranged wife of Scottie Pippen got wild during a visit to the South Carolina attraction. 

The Myrtle Beach Safari, which is run through  The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S.) is run by Doc Antle, an animal trainer and zoo keeper who has dubbed himself a conservationist.

Antle has been fined numerous times by the USDA for various instances of animal mistreatment, and in 2019 the safari was raided by law enforcement officials.

In October 2020, Antle was indicted on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges for alleged wildlife trafficking, violations of the Endangered Species Act and animal cruelty.

He was featured in the 2020 Netflix documentary Tiger King 

Larsa has recently been staying in Miami, Florida, after her home on the West Coast was vandalized and robbed.

Late last year, she was linked to the Minnesota Timberwolves player Malik Beasley, 24, after photos of the two together at a mall in Miami emerged.

Beasley’s wife Monica Yao filed for divorce shortly after the pictures were released, and Larsa later claimed on Instagram that the two were separated before she and Beasley were seen together.

A furious Yao responded to the tweet, calling it ‘100% false.’

‘Continue to speak on my name and my relationship and we’re going to have issues. Receipts don’t lie. Let’s not go there. I think you’ve embarrassed yourself enough already,’ she wrote.

Larsa and Malik were subsequently seen spending the holidays together.