TV host admits show was 'misleading' after viewers blast botched attempt to be eaten alive
THE TV presenter who it was claimed would be eaten alive by a snake has reacted to criticism of the stunt after disappointed viewers flooded Twitter to moan about the eagerly-awaited documentary.
Paul Rosolie was protected by a carbon fibre suit that took two years to design
The Discovery Channel had promised that Paul Rosolie would be swallowed by an 18-stone anaconda in their show Eaten Alive.
However hundreds of people mocked the prime-time show after the American naturalist called in his safety team just seconds into the highly-anticipated stunt, claiming he could feel his arm "start to break" under the pressure of the snake's deadly grip.
Today, the TV host defended the documentary – aired as part of Discovery Channel's Mega Week line-up – claiming any disappointment was due to a "misleading" advertising campaign.
Mr Rosolie faced a barrage of abuse and criticism during a Live Q&A with his disgruntled viewers on Facebook.
The snake slowly started to swallow Mr Rosolie before he called-off the stunt
But the 27-year-old presenter defended the show – branding the stunt an "honest attempt".
He said: "Well we tried as hard as we could.
"It was an honest attempt. So I did what I could - the point was to show how awesome and important the Amazon is!
"I agree that the hype around the show was misleading.
"People seemed to assume that I already had gotten eaten.
"They seemed to forget that this was an attempt at 'entering the belly of the beast' not a promised outcome."
Eaten Alive by Snake (Sneak Peek)
Guys, my face is down. I'm calling it, I need help
Mr Rosolie admitted that the attempt might have been a bit more entertaining if he had not been wearing a protective suit.
However, he quickly added: "But then I'd also be dead.
"Much better TV - but I want to be alive a little longer!"
The controversial stunt – which premiered Sunday in the US and will air in the UK on Friday – shows the 20ft-long anaconda slithering and coiling around Mr Rosolie as crew members closely monitor his vital signs and anxiously check his wellbeing via radio.
"Paul, are you ok?," his 23-year-old wife Gowri Varanashi, who watched the stunt, can be heard asking.
A safety observer can also be heard to warning: "Paul, your heart rate is getting pretty high and your breathing is really laboured."
"Guys, my face is down," Mr Rosolie replied to his team before asking for help seconds later, adding: "I'm calling it, I need help!"
Crew members are then shown speeding to his side and wrestling away the hefty snake.
Interviewed after the stunt, Mr Rosolie said: "The last thing I remember was her mouth open wide and everything went black.
"I went limp and let it constrict.
"All the while I was just thinking: 'Eat, eat, eat!'.
"She wrapped around me and I felt my suit cracking and my arms ripping out of their sockets."
But deflated fans were not convinced by the brave TV stunt.
On Twitter, Connor McCarthy said: "I hope Paul is happy despite letting an entire nation down.
"I can't believe he can show his face on TV right now. What a wuss #EatenAlive".
#EatenAlive - should have been called nibble my nose.
— opie radio (@OpieRadio) December 8, 2014
I guess calling this "Getting Squeezed Really Hard" didn't sound as enticing. #EatenAlive
— Bobby Frasor (@BFrasor) December 8, 2014
The guy won't break his arm for science. #EatenAlive #uncle #bruts
— John Mitchell (@mitchabov) December 8, 2014
Aaron Sagers also blasted the show's mis-leading title, tweeting: "Dear Paul Rosolie of #EatenAlive You Had One Job.
"Call a movie #SnakesOnAPlane & you expect mothereffin snakes on a mothereffin plane.
"Call a special #EatenAlive & someone better be eaten!"
Minutes after credits rolled on the highly-anticipated documentary, fans started tweeting alternative titles to the show.
One user posted: "#EatenAlive - should have been called nibble my nose."
Bobby Frasor added: "I guess calling this 'Getting Squeezed Really Hard' didn't sound as enticing."
Meanwhile, Colorado Avalanche's ice hockey star Jamie McGinn wrote: "What the... So u build up that he gets #EatenAlive and then that.. #givemebackmy2hrs".
The 'Eaten Alive' stunt took filmmakers more than two years to prepare.
I'm so rattled right now I literally watched 2 hours of #EatenAlive to see Paul bitch out from getting hugged by a snake
— The Cancer Teammate (@CancerTeammate) December 8, 2014
I hope Paul is happy despite letting an entire nation down. I can't believe he can show his face on tv right now. What a wuss #EatenAlive
— Connor McCarthy (@connorrmccarthy) December 8, 2014
Hey @discovery, can I have my own show? #EatenAlive pic.twitter.com/OLEZykn1sx
— BarstoolTrent (@BarstoolTrent) December 8, 2014
To survive the ordeal, Mr Rosolie wore a protective suit containing numerous safety features.
The outside of the jet-black outfit contained an Acid Protection Tychem Layer – designed to withstand 127 toxic chemicals and therefore leaving Mr Rosolie unharmed by the acidic digestive fluids produced by the snake.
The lightweight suit was made of carbon fibre and was designed to be strong enough to withstand "a large school bus" being pressed on the chest-plate, believed to be equal to the pressure applied by the coiled snake.
The stunt was put together to draw attention to large parts of the world's rainforest disappearing, Mr Rosolie claimed.
He said: "I wanted to do something to grab people’s attention to the plight of the disappearing rainforests, something completely crazy.
"Everything else has been tried."