Publisher condemns 'violent' use of Franklin the Turtle after Hegseth's boat strike post

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's post mocking the children's character Franklin the Turtle, depicting him as a rocket launcher-wielding warrior, has sparked widespread condemnation from the book's publisher. The company has strongly denounced any use of its iconic character that promotes "denigrating, violent, or unauthorized" content.

The backlash comes after Hegseth posted an image showing Franklin targeting alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, with a US flag on his arm and a drug-laden boat exploding in the background. The caption read, "For your Christmas wish list." This post was part of a series of images that mock practices experts have deemed illegal.

The book's publisher, Kids Can Press, issued a statement saying Franklin is a beloved Canadian icon who stands for kindness, empathy, and inclusivity. They warned against any use of his image or name that contradicts these values.

This incident comes amid growing outrage over US strikes on boats in the region, which have resulted in at least 80 deaths. The Pentagon's law of war manual prohibits making wounded, sick, or shipwrecked individuals the object of attack.

Hegseth's post has sparked a range of other mock covers and responses, including one questioning the results of the 2020 presidential election. Critics have also called for the book to be removed from children's shelves.

The controversy highlights concerns about the use of popular culture characters in military contexts, particularly when it comes to issues like drone strikes and their impact on civilians.

I'm so done with this . I mean, come on, Secretary Hegseth thinks it's a good idea to turn Franklin the Turtle into some kind of rocket launcher-wielding war machine? Newsflash: kids love that character because he's supposed to be friendly and gentle, not some violent bad guy . And what's with the book's publisher getting slammed for speaking up? Can't they just defend their own brand? The whole thing feels like a big mess .

Ugh, what is this world comin' to ? I mean, I'm all for a good laugh, but some Secretary's gotta keep his sense of humor under wraps... especially not with that poor Franklin character . The guy's supposed to be about kindness and empathy, not takin' out rocket launchers like he's in some video game . And now the publisher's goin' off on him, talkin' about denigratin' content and whatnot . I mean, I get it, maybe Hegseth didn't think it through, but it's just a joke, right? Can't we just enjoy some humor without all this serious stuff weighin' us down? It's like they're takin' the jolly outta Christmas ...

I mean come on , Pete Hegseth didn't exactly break any rules here... I get why Kids Can Press is upset but let's be real, it was just a funny image . Franklin the Turtle has been around for ages and he's always been about being cool with guns & stuff. It's not like he's some sort of hero or anything . The book's publisher is just being super sensitive about this whole thing... it's just an image, right? And can we please talk about how the real issue here is the US strikes on those boats in the Caribbean? Like, what's really going on there? Anyway, I don't think Hegseth deserves all the backlash he's getting... it was just a Christmas joke .

I'm not surprised by the backlash around this post . While I get that Pete Hegseth was trying to make a point about US actions in the Caribbean and Pacific, using Franklin as a character is just not right. I mean, Franklin's all about kindness and empathy - those values don't exactly align with what he's been used for here. And yeah, it's concerning that the Pentagon even has a law of war manual - seems like common sense to me, but okay.

I do think it's interesting that this comes amid growing outrage over US strikes in the region, though . It's like, if you're gonna use an iconic character to make a point about drone strikes and their impact on civilians, at least do it in a way that's respectful and accurate. This just feels like another example of people using children's characters for clickbait or whatever.

I'm also kinda curious what Kids Can Press is thinking by releasing the book in the first place . Were they aware of how Hegseth was gonna use it? Shouldn't they have fact-checked that one before? Anyway, I think this whole thing highlights a bigger issue - how we use popular culture characters to talk about serious issues like war and violence. It's a tough balance to strike, but I guess it's an opportunity for us to rethink how we're using these characters in the first place

I mean, come on... Pete Hegseth thinks he's funny? Who thought it was a good idea to mash up a children's character with a bunch of guns and explosions? The guy needs to get his priorities straight - maybe focus on actual problems instead of trying to be the office clown. And what's next, a Spider-Man comic book featuring him as a superhero? Meanwhile, the publisher is right to speak up about the values Franklin represents: kindness, empathy, and inclusivity... yikes, sounds like the US military could use some of that

Omg u guys I cant even this is so wrong!! like how can u make a character like franklin who is all about kindness & empathy into some kinda violent rocket launcher dude?! its like u r literally hurting peoples feelings & sending the wrong message to kids!

and on top of that, its just so mean to use someone elses property like that without permission i feel for the publisher and kids everywhere who are gonna be affected by this. can we pls just promote positivity & love instead of violence & hate?

this is so messed up dude I mean, what kind of sick joke is that? taking a cute cartoon character like franklin the turtle and turning him into some kinda mindless drone warrior... it's just not cool. i get that heeseeth was trying to be funny or whatever, but newsflash: mocking kids' content is never okay especially when it comes from someone in a position of power like a defense secretary.

and let's be real, this whole thing is super problematic because it's not just about franklin the turtle - it's about how we use popular culture to justify or normalize military actions that hurt innocent people. i'm all for making people think critically about these issues, but come on, dude...

I mean, what is wrong with these people? Pete Hegseth thinks it's funny to dress up Franklin the Turtle as a rocket launcher-wielding warrior? Newsflash, dude: that's not funny, that's just plain ugly. Kids are looking at this and thinking "Hey, if Franklin can be a violent, aggressive character, maybe I'll be one too?" No thanks. And what's next? Using Disney characters to promote bombs and missiles? It's just gross. The Pentagon should know better than to use these beloved characters like they're playing dress-up for a bad Halloween costume party. Franklin is about kindness, empathy, and inclusivity – not about blowing stuff up with rockets. Come on, Secretary Hegseth, get your priorities straight!

I'm totally confused about this whole thing . I mean, what's next? Are they gonna put Captain America in a onesie and make him wield a rocket launcher too?! It's just not right, you know? Franklin the Turtle is supposed to be all about kindness and empathy, not some kinda action hero . And can we talk about how messed up it is that they're using this character to mock real-life issues like drone strikes and violence in the Caribbean? It's just insensitive, plain and simple .

And what really gets me is that this is happening at Christmas time when we're supposed to be spreading love and joy . Instead, we've got some dude making fun of a beloved children's character and it's just...no . I remember when I was a kid, we didn't have all these fancy wars and drone strikes like they do now . We just played outside 'til the streetlights came on and had our adventures .

I'm not sure what the world is coming to, but one thing's for sure - Franklin the Turtle should be left alone .

I'm low-key shocked at what Pete Hegseth did here . Like, I get that he was just trying to be funny or whatever, but using Franklin the Turtle in a military context? It's just not cool, you feel? The kid's supposed to be all about kindness and empathy, not blowing stuff up left and right .

And can we talk about how tone-deaf this is coming from someone who's supposed to be in charge of the country's defense . It's not like he was making some subtle joke that only military folks would get – nope, it was just a big ol' target on his back .

It's also wild that he thought this would be funny and didn't even consider how it might affect the real people who are actually hurt by these kinds of actions . I mean, I guess we can give him points for being willing to take a shot (pun intended) at making some people laugh, but it's not all good vibes here .

Anyway, I'm glad Kids Can Press is speaking out against this and setting some boundaries – Franklin deserves better than to be used as some kind of propaganda tool . Let's hope we can learn from this and do better in the future .

Ugh, this is soooo bad ! I mean come on, Secretary Hegseth thinks it's a good idea to turn Franklin into some kind of miniature Rambo? Like, what's next? Making SpongeBob a special ops agent? It's just so unnecessary and insensitive. Kids look up to Franklin as a symbol of kindness and empathy, not some gun-toting machine .

And can we talk about the timing of this post? It comes at a time when the US is already getting roasted for their handling of drone strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific. Like, are they trying to suck even more attention away from the real issues?

I'm all for a good laugh, but this just feels like trolling to me. I don't think Secretary Hegseth should be doing that kind of thing, especially with children's characters involved . It's just not cool, you know?

I'm totally okay with this whole thing . I mean, if Pete Hegseth thinks Franklin the Turtle can be a rocket launcher-wielding warrior, who are we to stop him? It's all about free speech, right? And if some publisher doesn't like it, they should just suck it up and deal with it. I don't get why everyone's so upset - the guy's just joking around, having a bit of fun. It's not like he's actually suggesting we start using turtley-powered drones or anything (although now that I think about it... ). And let's be real, those drone strikes are a total joke anyway. The Pentagon's law of war manual is just a bunch of bureaucratic nonsense. Who needs rules when you've got patriotism and a good sense of humor?

Man... I'm just thinking about what kind of world we're living in where a character like Franklin can be used to mock something as serious as war and violence . Like, is this really the kind of messaging we want for our kids? It's not just about the image itself, but the impact it has on their perception of the world. We should be teaching them empathy and kindness, not glorifying things that can lead to harm.

And it's not just about Franklin, it's about the bigger picture. What does it say about us as a society when we can't even have an honest conversation about war without resorting to mockery? It feels like we're more concerned with being funny than with actually addressing the issues at hand .

I guess what I'm trying to say is that this incident makes me think about how we use popular culture and symbols to shape our values and attitudes. Are we using them to promote understanding and compassion, or are we just using them to be edgy? It's a big question, but it's one that needs to be asked .

OMG, I'm so disappointed but not surprised by this... I mean, who doesn't know that using a beloved children's character for military propaganda is a NO-NO? It's like, common sense, right? But seriously, it's just another example of how our words and actions can hurt people. I'm all about spreading positivity and kindness, but this one just kinda... Frankly, I think the book publisher should've spoken up sooner, you know?

On a more positive note, though! This has got me thinking about how we can use popular culture to spread awareness and support important causes. Like, imagine if artists and influencers used their platforms to highlight the importance of kindness, empathy, and inclusivity? That would be amazing! We could make a real difference, you know?

Anyway, I'm just gonna keep on being optimistic and spreading love Can we focus on the good stuff instead?

I gotta say, this whole thing is a total bummer ... but at the same time, it's super clear what's going down here. Pete Hegseth was totally out of line with that Franklin the Turtle post - I mean, who does he think he is, right? It's like, come on, dude, you're a public figure and you're gonna mock some kid's beloved character just to make a point about... whatever.

But here's the thing: this whole incident is actually a reflection of our society's values (or lack thereof). We need to think about what kind of messages we're sending out there - especially when it comes to kids. I mean, if Franklin's supposed to be all about kindness and empathy, then shouldn't we be promoting that in real life? It's like, no wonder we got so many deaths over those US strikes...

Anyway, this whole thing is just a big ol' reminder: think before you post, folks! And don't forget, with great power comes great responsibility .

come on guys ... can't we just chill for a sec? Pete Hegseth's post was probably meant as a joke or a thought-provoking commentary, but I get why it came across the wrong way. the thing is, franklin the turtle is all about kindness and empathy - what happened to that message? let's not forget why we love characters like franklin in the first place: they're supposed to inspire goodness and positivity in our kids.

it's also worth thinking about how this relates to the broader conversation around drones, military strikes, and their impact on civilians. is it really okay to use children's icons for propaganda or to highlight serious issues? I'm not saying Hegseth didn't have the best intentions, but maybe he should've thought twice before posting that image.

lets take a step back and try to understand where each other is coming from... we can disagree without being mean-spirited .

I'm genuinely shocked by this news . What was he thinking posting that?! I mean, I get that we're living in a complex world where the lines can get blurred but come on, Franklin is supposed to be a kid's book character, not some kinda warrior dude . It's just so insensitive and unnecessary. And what really gets my goat is that it's all part of this growing trend of using popular culture characters to promote military tactics and drone strikes... I just don't think it's right, you know? Kids are gonna see that stuff and think that's cool or even acceptable . It's not exactly the kind of message we want to be sending out there.

I'm totally with Pete Hegseth on this one . I mean, come on, Franklin the Turtle is a character who's all about being kind and inclusive... but what if he's also secretly a total boss who wants to take down bad guys? Like, who says you can't have a hero who uses a rocket launcher in certain circumstances? The book's publisher is just trying to ruin Christmas by being so PC . And let's be real, if Franklin can target bad drug-smuggling boats, why can't he do the same with drones that are causing chaos in the Caribbean and Pacific? It's all about context, folks. I'm totally fine with this whole situation .