Ten former FBI officials signed a letter describing the present danger the U.S. faces from President Joe Biden’s border policy and raising serious concerns about a “specific threat that may be one of the most pernicious ever to menace the United States.” The letter was signed last week and sent to leaders in the House and Senate before it was shared by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) on Thursday. In it‚ the former FBI officials address a “new and unfamiliar” threat facing the country as “military aged men from across the globe” easily enter the U.S. “across a border that has been accurately advertised around the world as largely unprotected with ready access.” “It would be difficult to overstate the danger represented by the presence inside our borders of what is comparatively a multi-division army of young single adult males from hostile nations and regions whose background‚ intent‚ or allegiance is completely unknown‚” the letter states. “In light of such a daunting‚ unprecedented penetration by uninvited foreign actors‚ it is reasonable to assert that the country possesses dramatically diminished national security at this time‚” the letter continues. “The nation’s military and laws and other natural protective barriers that have provided traditional security in the past have been thoroughly circumvented over the past three years.” This sobering letter from former FBI‚ Homeland Security‚ and other law enforcement officials describes the chilling reality of why @POTUS’s open border is a clear and present danger to America. pic.twitter.com/JrlM6vKjVq — Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) January 25‚ 2024 The FBI officials’ letter was shared as the fight between Texas and the Biden administration over border security is heating up. Earlier this week‚ the U.S. Supreme Court authorized federal agents to cut through razor wire that was put in place by Texas authorities to repel migrants from illegally entering the country. Then‚ Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a statement on Wednesday‚ vowing to secure the southern border and uphold “Texas’s constitutional authority to defend and protect itself” as Texas authorities continued to install razor wire along the southern border. The former FBI officials added that it is “particularly alarming” in light of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel that hundreds of illegal immigrants apprehended by Border Patrol were on the terrorist watchlist. Since Fiscal Year 2021‚ 294 suspected terrorists have been apprehended at the southern border‚ and in Fiscal Year 2023 alone‚ CBP arrested 598 known gang members who crossed into the U.S.‚ according to the Department of Homeland Security. The letter warned that a terrorist attack on U.S. soil “in imitation of 10/7” should be “considered a distinct possibility.” The FBI officials added that while “the warning lights are blinking‚” there has been “little discussion … highlighting unsecured borders as a significant cause of this increasingly dangerous environment.” “The country has been invaded‚ an invasion that will continue as long as the nation’s enemies perceive it will be tolerated‚” the letter concluded. “Until it is stopped the United States is extraordinarily less safe and secure. Knowing all of this‚ it would be a shameful travesty if some terrible attack‚ a preventable attack‚ were to occur against innocent Americans or the infrastructure that keeps the nation safe and functioning. The government will have failed grievously in its duty to protect.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Signatories of the letter included Kevin Brock‚ Chris Swecker‚ Timothy Healy‚ Ruben Garcia Jr.‚ Mark Morgan‚ David Szady‚ Jody Weis‚ David Mitchell‚ William Gavin‚ and Timothy McNally. The letter was addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA)‚ Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)‚ House Select Committee on Intelligence Chair Mike Turner (R-OH)‚ Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chair Mark Warner (D-VA)‚ Committee on Homeland Security Chair Mark Green (R-TN)‚ and Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chair Gary Peters (D-MI).

A Harvard University employee challenged a Jewish student who is currently suing the Ivy league school over anti-Semitism to a debate on Israel’s role in 9/11‚ according to a copy of the harassing email obtained by The Daily Wire.  “I invite you to debate me today at the Cambridge Street overpass 12-1‚ don’t miss it!” Gustavo Espada‚ an active university employee‚ wrote in a Thursday email to Shabbos Kestenbaum‚ the student. “If you don’t show up I will use a puppet or potted plant to represent you!” Espada sent the email from his official Harvard account with the subject line‚ “invitation to debate Israeli role in 9/11.” He also offered to plan a “more formal” debate in a “large venue” on campus. Harvard Employee‚ Gustavo Espada‚ asked a Jewish student to debate the “Israeli role in 9/11.” Espada is the financial and systems coordinator for the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations‚ according to Harvard University’s website. He is also a Harvard alumni who graduated in 1996 and a member of the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers‚ according to his email signature. Espada did not agree to an on the record interview. Harvard did not respond to a request for comment. “PS stop saying I hate Jews unless that is something you want‚” Espada added in the email. “I hate Israel and Zionism with a passion and you know full well they are two different things.” Gustavo Espada’s bio page on Harvard University’s website. (Credit: Harvard University) Kestenbaum‚ along with other students‚ filed a lawsuit against the Ivy League earlier this month‚ accusing it of selectively enforcing its policies to avoid protecting Jewish students from harassment and enabling anti-Semitism. “It would stand to reason that someone this hateful would have attended‚ and continue to work‚ at Harvard‚” Kestenbaum‚ who notified the Cambridge Police Department of Espada’s actions‚ told The Daily Wire. “Harvard‚ to this day‚ has yet to introduce or enforce a concrete plan of action pertaining to their dismantling of antisemitism on campus.” “The time for task forces‚ statements‚ and apologies are over‚” he added. “I want action and I want it yesterday.” Espada also referenced posters of Israeli hostages that were defaced earlier this week with 9/11 conspiracies‚ which Kestebaum documented on his X‚ formerly known as Twitter‚ account READ MORE: ‘Israel Did 9/11’: Harvard Campus Littered With Anti-Semitic Vandalism Ahead Of New Semester “Perhaps you and your allies want to start acting in better faith‚ starting with a public correction of the false claims you have made about the posters‚ and an apology to the community for inflaming passions at this difficult time with false statements?” Espada added in the email. Gustavo Espado posted 9/11 conspiracy theories to his X account. A X account that appears to belong to Espada‚ with account name “9/11 Guy” posted at Kestenbaum Thursday defending the vandalism on the posters that blames Israel for 9/11.  “The posters make no mention of Jews‚ only Israel and its lies including the 5?Israelis arrested on 9/11 and the obvious demolition with explosives of the WTC‚ [sic]” he wrote.  Espada reiterated the call for a debate‚ this time at the “science center.” “Anyone wishing to debate me should come to the science center today between 12 and 1!” he added. “All individuals and news outlets publishing incorrect and/or libelous statements about these events is hereby served notice.” Posters of Israeli hostages defaced at Harvard University on January 22‚ 2024. In photos obtained by The Daily Wire‚ the words “lies” and “fake” were written over one of the hostage posters. In another‚ “Sure‚ Jan” was written over the face of 23-year-old hostage Romi Gonen.  Espada’s X account is full of posts with conspiracy theories about Jews and Israel. Espada called for Israel to “be wiped off the map” on January 20‚ 2024. “Why‚ because I think Israel should be wiped off the map for what it’s done around the world?” he posted. “I think what I am is an ‘antisemite’ because I have no problem with Jews per se‚ just the ones who think there’s a different set of rules for them.” Harvard employee Gustavo Espado called for the destruction of Israel in a post to X. He questioned the legitimacy of Hamas’s October 7 attack against Israeli civilians‚ tweeting‚ “IDF helicopter fired into kibbutz. No beheaded babies. What if any part of 10/7 is real?” In a video Espada posted of himself in Harvard Square‚ he shouted at police officers and chants “From the River to the Sea‚” and “Globalize the intifada.” On January 23‚ he shared a tweet with a picture of Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro and Elon Musk at the concentration camp‚ Auschwitz‚ from another user that accused Zionists and globalists of being “the same people who rule America and their vassals.”  “This is power‚” he wrote‚ responding to the tweet. “A certain kind of power on the decline‚ but nevertheless‚ bear witness to it for posterity!” READ MORE: Harvard To Host Summer Program At Palestinian University Dominated By Hamas On the same day‚ he returned to his 9/11 conspiracies‚ posting‚ “one thing I learned on 9/11 and will never forget is how good Israelis are with explosives.”  In a TikTok post Thursday night‚ Espada spoke in Spanish while waving around a toy machete‚ claiming he is ready to fight to win. “I’m not going to go into details but this is a good plan. So if you follow us‚ this is what’s happening‚” he says in Spanish before photos of various high-profile Jews and a screenshot of Kestenbaum’s tweet. Espada has been active in pushing 9/11 conspiracy theories for 18 years‚ according to a 2006 piece in The Lowell Sun which reported he spends 10 hours a week “handing out literature‚ Web logging and talking with people on the street about his views on 9/11.” “I don’t think anybody has a 100 percent view of what actually did happen on 9/11‚” he told the paper at the time.

One of the inmates who escaped this week from an Arkansas county jail has been apprehended‚ leaving one inmate still on the run. Noah Roush‚ 22‚ was captured on Thursday afternoon after the Metropolitan Emergency Association (MECA) received a 911 call from someone who said a person fitting Roush’s description was inside an abandoned home in Pine Bluff‚ Arkansas‚ the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release. Captain Yohance Brunson arrived to find Roush‚ who attempted to flee. Brunson chased Roush and was able to apprehend him with the help of Captain Brad Vilches and Officer Aaron Torres of the Southeast Arkansas College Department of Public Safety (SEARKDPS). “We appreciate the brave citizen who made the decision to get involved and call MECA as well as the outstanding efforts of our own Captain Brunson‚ as well as SEARKDPS Captain Brad Vilches and Officer Torres‚” the JCSO said in the press release. “Over the last three days numerous hours were worked by our own Deputies as well as the Pine Bluff Police Department Vice and Narcotics‚ Arkansas State Police‚ and Arkansas Department of Correction. We appreciate all of their time and effort they have put in to make this happen.” Roush‚ along with 23-year-old Jatonia Bryant‚ were discovered missing Monday night‚ around 10:30 p.m. local time‚ the JCSO said in an earlier press release. The two escaped from the Dub Brassell Adult Detention Center and may have broken free within the previous 48 hours. It is unclear how long it had been before they were discovered missing. It is also unclear how they escaped. Bryan is a black male‚ 5’11” tall‚ and weighs about 145 pounds. He was being held on probable cause of capital murder. Roush was being held on probable cause for residential burglary and theft of property. He is also the suspect in a homicide. “We are relieved to have Roush in custody‚ but we also remain vigilant in capturing Jatonia Bryant who remains at large‚” the JCSO said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Authorities are asking anyone with information about Bryant’s whereabouts to contact MECA (870)541-5300‚ Captain Yohance Brunson (870)692-3376‚ or Lieutenant Terry Wingard (870)510-0395. A $2‚500 reward is being offered for information leading to Bryant’s capture.

The October 7‚ 2023 terrorist attacks on Israel by Hamas revealed the Left’s free speech hypocrisy. Progressives who sat by as the Biden administration teamed with social media giants to censor Americans suddenly howled after Hamas apologists were “canceled.”  The free speech battles within Hollywood have been even more hypocritical‚ with or without the Hamas atrocities. An industry which praised free speech during the Bush years went silent as conservative stars were repeatedly punished‚ for their views‚ sensitivity readers ransacked beloved authors and comedians looked over their shoulders for sharing “problematic” jokes. Yet two actresses have been “canceled” for supporting the Palestinian cause‚ albeit in extreme fashion.Was that right? Should stars be able to share potentially abhorrent views sans punishment? Rising star Melissa Barrera of “Scream” fame lost a role in the next film in the horror franchise after her pro-Palestinian views went public. She didn’t just call for a ceasefire or express empathy for an impoverished people. She shared a story on Instagram suggesting pro-Israeli forces distort the Holocaust to boost the nation’s armed forces. Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Vulture She also suggested the media is controlled by Jews and that Israel’s war against Hamas amounted to “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing.” For that Spyglass Media Group‚ the studio behind the “Scream” franchises‚ cut her loose. Oscar winner Susan Sarandon’s agent severed ties with the superstar after she crudely compared the raging anti-Semitism in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks to what Palestinians endure in America. Both actresses hardly appear contrite. Sarandon’s X account is now a non-stop wave of pro-Palestinian propaganda. Barrera stood by her comments‚ sans apology. JNI/Star Max/GC Images Barrera‚ who recently marched in a pro-Palestinian protest during the Sundance Film Festival‚ contends her comments reflect mainstream views on the issues in play. “The people who know me in my family know the truth about me and where I stand‚ and I think most people in the world also do‚” she said.  Plus‚ Barrera has more gigs lined up‚ meaning her cancellation will be short-lived. Sharing ardently anti-Israeli rhetoric also cost CAA agent Maha Dakhil her gig. Dakhil‚ who has represented Tom Cruise‚ Madonna‚ and more‚ resigned from the agency’s internal board after she accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza. Other stars have shared aggressively pro-Palestinian‚ anti-Israeli views without overt consequences. John Cusack promotes those views ‘round the clock on his X platform but no longer works as regularly as he did in days gone by. Scott Heins/Getty Images Other stars rallied to promote an Israeli/Hamas ceasefire‚ often with little attention to either the Oct. 7 atrocities or the hostages still in the clutches of Hamas. A few media outlets suggested the Barrera/Sarandon cancellations amounted to a new Hollywood blacklist. It’s worth noting other stars have been canceled for far‚ far less. Roseanne Barr lost her signature sitcom‚ along with her Hollywood career‚ for one gross‚ racially charged Tweet in 2018 for which she immediately apologized. Actress Gina Carano’s cancellation proved even more cruel. The “Mandalorian” star lost her Disney+ showcase after suggesting American conservatives were being dehumanized in a similar fashion to Jews in Germany in the 1930s. Agree? Disagree? Either way‚ it hardly mentioned a reprimand‚ let alone a pink slip. Carano joined The Daily Wire’s “Terror on the Prairie” western after her dismissal but hasn’t worked in mainstream Hollywood fare since. And that’s the bigger problem afoot. Hollywood’s stance on free speech is all over the map‚ emotionally driven and progressive to the core. WATCH: “The Divided States Of Biden with Ben Shapiro” on DailyWire+ Carano’s commentary pales compared to that of her “Mandalorian” co-star‚ Pedro Pascal. The actor compared Trump voters to Nazis before deleting the post. He suffered no consequences for his ghastly comparison. Slamming Republicans is encouraged‚ after all‚ in La La Land. And let’s not forget the constellation of stars who wished for President Donald Trump’s death in recent years. The list includes Madonna‚ who dreamed of blowing up the White House‚ presumably with Trump inside‚ director Joss Whedon‚ Charlie Sheen‚ Johnny Depp and more. None suffered any professional blowback for sharing those views. Only Kathy Griffin‚ who infamously shared a photograph of her holding a bloodied Trump ahead aloft‚ felt professional pain for her views. Other repugnant celebrity comments also got ignored. Ellen Barkin pined for disgraced comedian Louis C.K. to be raped and shot via her then-Twitter account and nothing untoward happened to her career. Bette Midler repeatedly cheered on the neighbor who attacked Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY). The Republican gadfly suffered serious injuries as a result‚ but Midler kept on working (even for Disney+‚ for what it’s worth). CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP Employers have the right to terminate employees who break the law or disgrace the company with their actions. No one is calling what Spyglass did to Barrera illegal in any fashion. Hollywood’s lack of free speech logic‚ let alone moral clarity‚ is disturbing. Stand for absolute free speech or judge stars who say egregious things in something close to a reasonable‚ consistent manner. Pick a lane. The current mania regarding the Israel/Hamas war could have one result that has little to do with free speech or Cancel Culture. Will Jewish actors‚ or anyone who cares about the Jewish people‚ rush to work alongside someone like Barrera? What about Cusack? The actor recently shared a post featuring “Egypt’s Jon Stewart‚” Bassem Youssef‚ saying the Oct. 7 attacks didn’t happen. That’s despite video after ghastly video‚ sharing across the globe‚ confirming the atrocities. This goes beyond free speech. Actors can opt in‚ or out‚ of a given project for any number or reasons. Some may start choosing their co-stars more carefully. * * * Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist‚ movie critic and editor of HollywoodInToto.com. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at @HollywoodInToto. The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) announced Friday that it would launch an investigation into information provided by Israeli authorities regarding the alleged involvement of several of the agency’s employees in Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel on October 7‚ which resulted in the deaths of over 1‚200 Israelis. “The Israeli Authorities have provided UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on 7 October‚” Philippe Lazzarini‚ the UNRWA’s commissioner-general said in a statement. “To protect the Agency’s ability to deliver humanitarian assistance‚ I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay.  Any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable‚ including through criminal prosecution.” The State Department also issued a statement Friday announcing that it would pause additional funding for the agency due to the allegations. The department’s statement noted that 12 UNRWA employees so far have been accused of involvement in Hamas’ attack. “The United States is extremely troubled by the allegations that twelve UNRWA employees may have been involved in the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.  The Department of State has temporarily paused additional funding for UNRWA while we review these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them‚” the statement from department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. The UNRWA has a well-documented history of anti-Israel bias. UNRWA facilitates the spreading of anti-Semitic propaganda via many avenues‚ the most troublesome of which is perhaps its production of educational materials for children inciting hatred of Jews. Other examples include Nazi-like cartoons shared on social media by its staff and promoting terrorist-supporting flotillas and violence against Israel. UNRWA has also allowed Hamas to use its facilities and has employed its members as staff. Hillel Neuer‚ the Executive Director of UN Watch‚ told a congressional hearing back in November that “Teachers and schools at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency‚ which runs education and social services for Palestinians‚ regularly call to murder Jews‚ and create teaching materials that glorify terrorism‚ encourage martyrdom‚ demonize Israelis and incite antisemitism.” “In 2022 alone‚ UNRWA received $344 million in U.S. funding‚” Neuer continued. “Yet a March 2023 report by UN Watch and Impact-SE identified 133 UNRWA educators and staff who were found to promote hate and violence on social media‚ and an additional 82 teachers and other staff affiliated with 30 UNRWA schools who were involved in drafting and distributing hateful content to students.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Neuer previously pointed out in 2017 that the agency had attempted to pass off a picture of a little girl standing amid rubble in war-torn Syria in 2015 as a girl living in the Gaza Strip. “Left: UNRWA photo‚ Jan. 27. 2015‚ of girl in Syria Right: Same UNRWA photo‚ May 29‚ 2017‚ but now she’s “Aya from Gaza” oppressed by Israel‚” he posted on Twitter. “No organization exemplifies the UN’s nurturing of Palestinian grievances at the expense of Palestinians better than UNRWA‚” Jonathan Schanzer‚ the Senior Vice President for Research at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies‚ said during the same hearing in November. “The agency has over 30‚000 employees. UNRWA doesn’t screen them for ties to terrorist groups‚ meaning that many employees are members of or affiliated with Hamas‚ Palestinian Islamic Jihad‚ or other violent groups‚” Schanzer pointed out. The House Foreign Affairs Committee had already scheduled a hearing for Tuesday to examine UNRWA’s links to Hamas terrorists as well as the attack on Oct. 7‚ according to Jewish Insider.

Country music stars Morgan Wallen and Eric Church have purchased the rights to the Field &; Stream brand and magazine‚ per an announcement made on Thursday‚ USA Today reported. The magazine was founded in 1871 and has been online-only since 2020. Wallen and Church have plans on reviving the paper version of Field &; Stream‚ plus will be hosting an outdoor music festival featuring the brand in the fall. Church said in a press release that the magazine was an important part of his childhood‚ which makes this acquisition extra special. “I can remember my grandfather kept a few of his favorite Field &; Stream magazines on the dash of his truck‚” he said in an announcement posted on X.  I can remember my grandfather kept a few of his favorite Field &; Stream magazines on the dash of his truck. That truck took us on hundreds of outdoor adventures and I all but memorized every story and every picture on every page. They were my Bible. It is the honor of my life to… pic.twitter.com/yN0kyCI2tr — Eric Church (@ericchurch) January 25‚ 2024 “That truck took us on hundreds of outdoor adventures and I all but memorized every story and every picture on every page. They were my Bible. It is the honor of my life to make sure that legacy carries on. It is both this responsibility to an American Icon and also to a young boy in his papaw’s truck that will be the compass that guides our steps‚” he added. Wallen also chimed in‚ saying his outdoorsmen lifestyle draws him to the brand. “There’s nothin’ I love more than being with friends around a campfire‚ on a boat or in a deer stand – and Field &; Stream represents all of those to me. … Being part of its future is incredible and we want to keep bringing people together outdoors‚ makin’ memories‚ for generations to come‚” the country star said. Doug McNamee‚ former president of Chip and Joanna Gaines’ lifestyle brand‚ Magnolia‚ will be heading up the effort to refresh Field &; Stream. “We are committed to reinforcing Field and Stream’s legendary status as the authoritative voice of the American outdoors‚” McNamee said in a statement‚ per USA Today. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The company refresh will include an updated website‚ new merchandise‚ the Field &; Stream music festival featuring “some of country music’s biggest stars‚” and outdoor activities such as “on-site camping‚ rafting‚ shooting sports‚ fishing‚ hiking‚ ATV off-roading‚ and more.” There’s also a membership club touting perks for fans of the brand.

A group of Republican senators led by Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) introduced a bill on Thursday that would ensure that illegal immigrants are not included in the population count for the Electoral College or congressional districts.  The bill‚ titled the “Equal Representation Act‚” would require the Census Bureau to ask a citizenship question so that Electoral College votes would only be apportioned based on U.S. citizens living in the state. Former President Donald Trump attempted to have the question added to the 2020 census but was blocked after he faced a bevy of lawsuits from Left-leaning groups.  “It is unconscionable that illegal immigrants and non-citizens are counted toward congressional district apportionment and our electoral map. While people continue to flee Democrat-run cities‚ desperate Democrats are back-filling the mass exodus with illegal immigrants so that they do not lose their seats in Congress or their electoral votes for the presidency‚ hence artificially boosting their political power and in turn diluting the power of other Americans’ votes‚” Hagerty said.  According to a draft of the legislation‚ the bill would require a citizenship question to be asked during the decennial census‚ and it would ensure that representatives would be designated based on the number of citizens living in a state and not the total population.  “Blue states may be losing citizens over their liberal policies‚ but they’re making up for it by welcoming illegal immigrants. Democrats have admitted the quiet part out loud as they continue to justify their open border policies: they just need a higher headcount to help them acquire more seats in Congress and more dollars from the federal government. This is wrong and un-American‚” Sen. Marsha Blackburn‚ a co-sponsor of the bill‚ said.  In 2019‚ the Supreme Court blocked Trump’s efforts to add a citizenship question to the census in a 5-4 decision after groups claimed that the question was discriminatory. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Other co-sponsors of the bill included Sens. Mike Braun (R-IN)‚ Katie Britt (R-AL)‚ Ted Budd (R-NC)‚ Bill Cassidy (R-LA)‚ Kevin Cramer (R-ND)‚ Mike Crapo (R-ID)‚ Steve Daines (R-MT)‚ Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)‚ James Lankford (R-OK.)‚ Mike Lee (R-UT)‚ Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)‚ Roger Marshall (R-KS)‚ Pete Ricketts (R-NB)‚ Jim Risch (R-ID)‚ Mike Rounds (R-SD)‚ Eric Schmitt (R-MO)‚ John Thune (R-SD)‚ Tommy Tuberville (R-AL)‚ and J.D. Vance (R-OH). The legislation comes as a record number of illegal immigrants have crossed the southern border under President Joe Biden.

Social media stars Gritty the mascot and Wally the emotional support alligator are officially friends‚ and they met in the most fitting of ways. Gritty‚ who represents the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes‚ brought Wally out for a meet and greet during a recent matchup between the Hurricanes and the Philadelphia Flyers. For the big introduction‚ the furry orange creature lifted Wally high above his head for the “Lion King Cam” segment. Following the debut‚ Gritty spent some time getting to know the 4-foot-6-inch alligator while adoring fans cheered him on. Then‚ the mascot sat and petted Wally for a while before the two danced around for the crowd. Gritty also gave Wally a giant smooch—square on the mouth. Instagram Wally became a viral sensation this past September when staff refused to let him into a Philadelphia Phillies game citing a policy that only allows “guide dogs‚ service animals or service animals in training” into the stadium. Shocked fans saw Wally slithering away from the entrance and stopped to pet and interact with him‚ which led to some major social media fame. Wally the Alligator is ‘Like a Little Puppy’ However‚ the alligator first made news in 2019 when the York Daily Record caught wind of his day job—supporting senior citizens and kids with disabilities. Owner Joie Henney takes Wally to schools and senior centers so he can comfort those in need. Instagram According to Joie‚ Wally is fully domesticated and acts “like a little puppy dog … He wants to be loved and petted.” While we appreciate the little guy and fully support his plight to bring joy‚ we’ll take his word for it and enjoy him from afar. Watch Wally and Gritty surprise fans in the video below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gritty (@grittynhl) Share this story and give Wally and Gritty more well-deserved social media fame! You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Two Stars Collide: Wally The Emotional Support Alligator Meets Gritty! appeared first on InspireMore.