A part-time musician who loves pets is fast becoming a global star after mocking Donald Trump after he suggested Haitian immigrants were becoming food for America’s cats and dogs.
“Eating the Cats”, a parody song by The Kiffins composed to reference Trump’s extravagant claims during the U.S. presidential debates that immigrants in Ohio are “eating dogs, eating cats”, has received over 8.7 million views on YouTube alone in 12 days.
“People of Springfield, please don’t eat my cat,” the South African singer, whose real name is David Scott, pleads. “Why would you do that? / Eat something else.”
He then helpfully shows a card suggesting other predominantly vegetarian options, including broccoli, avocado and boiled eggs.
The singer, who has been slowly building a fan base for his feel-good songs about pets and kids — because “they unite people” — has seen a surge in popularity since getting his singing paws on Trump.
However, he stressed that he was not attacking anyone but merely offering dietary advice suited to cats and dogs.
“I think music is a powerful way to dispel negative energy and polarising emotions, especially with a person like Donald Trump, who is a polarising figure,” he told AFP ahead of his band’s concert in Paris.
I’m not trying to hurt anyone
“I want my music to unite people,” the 36-year-old Cape Town-based singer said. “And I think that’s why I turned to music that involved animals. Because animals unite people.”
The video, which has been viewed millions of times on social media, shows Trump’s rival Kamala Harris reacting to widely ridiculed claims he made during a debate earlier this month. Some cats and dogs are also seen making sounds and looking equally incredulous.
Scott said all proceeds from the song will go to help pets and stray cats and dogs in Springfield, for which more than $20,000 has already been raised.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” he told AFP. “There’s been tremendous interest from both Democrats and Republicans.”
He said the song is “not about laughing at the situation, but about saying that you can rise above it… and see the humor in things,” adding that the musician describes himself as a “Christian, husband, father (and) part-time musician” in X.
Springfield’s mayor, police and Ohio’s Republican governor have all said there is no evidence to support Trump’s claim that Haitian migrants were eating the city’s pets.
But that hasn’t stopped his fellow candidate J.D. Vance — a senator from Ohio — from repeating his claims, even as they have been widely ridiculed.
“My constituents are telling me first-hand that they’re seeing these things,” Vance told CNN.
Prompted by that, Haitian groups in Springfield filed charges against Trump and Vance on Wednesday, alleging they posed a threat to their community after the two promoted false online rumors.
