A woman of color shamelessly indulged in what we’d generally refer to as white nonsense when she climbed into a lion enclosure at the Bronx Zoo, threatening a Harambe 2.0 situation.
A video posted to Instagram shows Myáh Lareé waving to the lion and dancing while the big cat stares at her. Only a moat separates the animal and the woman.
Lareé was escorted out of the park shortly after the video was taken.
The zoo released a statement in response to the incident.
"This action was a serious violation and unlawful trespass that could have resulted in serious injury or death. Barriers and rules are in place to keep both visitors, staff and animals safe. We have a zero tolerance policy on trespass and violation of barriers."
Police are searching for Lareé as the zoo is reportedly filing a criminal trespass charge against her.
Hernán Reynoso, the man who captured the video, told NBC 4 News New York that he initially thought her actions were apart of the exhibit, but quickly realized he was wrong.
“But when I see … she just was there, dancing, saying, 'Hi,' to the lion and everything and that was crazy,” he said.
He also told the station that the lion roared at the woman, inspiring him and his family to leave.
On Tuesday, zoo visitors responded to the Lareé's possibly life-threatening behavior; most of them were shocked and confused.
“I think it's absolutely crazy. I don't know why anyone would think to climb over there,” a visitor told CBS New York.
“That’s somebody who is very troubled,” said another visitor.
The zoo and lion exhibit remain open.
