A proud dad celebrating his daughter's grit and skill in a male-dominated sport, highlighting family values and youthful fearlessness.
The internet is calling Chris 'uncool' for his dad jokes, while animal rights activists are furious that he's normalizing bull riding for a teenager.
India, 14, rode for 9 seconds to win an all-boy competition. Chris captioned the video 'my daughter is a savage' on October 1, 2026. Critics called it 'animal abuse disguised as entertainment.'
Chris Hemsworth is living his best dad life, but the comments section is a war zone between 'she's a warrior' and 'this is cruel.'
Chris Hemsworth is one proud dad after his teenage daughter beat out all the boys in a bull-riding competition. In a new Instagram post, the Aussie actor bragged about his 14-year-old daughter, India, who rode a bucking bull for an impressive nine seconds before being thrown off. Her mammoth effort was enough to secure the win in an all-boy competition too.
Hemsworth captioned the video, “Just wanna say my daughter is a savage. Only girl in the comp and took home the win. proud moment.” The video shows India bursting into the ring while riding the wild bull, with onlookers watching and cheering from behind the fence. But it’s not just the riding that’s got people talking; it’s the cringe-worthy interaction between father and daughter that has fans loving the relatability.
In a pre-competition clip, Hemsworth could be heard hyping up his daughter, proving he was her biggest cheerleader. “There she is, champion bull rider,” he said. “How you feeling, India?
Are you gonna hang on? Seven seconds?” India’s response was the ultimate teenage eye-roll: “Seven? Why Seven?
You have to stay on for eight.” Hemsworth, doubling down on the dad joke, replied, “Eight seconds, what do I know?” With India evidently cringing, many of Hemsworth’s fans noted that dad jokes never fly even if you’re a big Hollywood star. “Imagine being Chris Hemsworth and still not being cool enough for your teenage daughter, relatable,” one user commented, while another added, “Love the embarrassing dad moment.” While there was plenty of praise for India’s adventurous side, the post didn’t escape the scrutiny of animal rights advocates.
One commenter wrote, “The God of Thunder raised a total warrior ..! Like father. like daughter..!!” But others were quick to call out the dangers and cruelty behind the sport. “How is this even a sport anymore.
Animal cruelty should not be praised and promoted like this,” one critic wrote. Another echoed the sentiment, labeling it “actual animal abuse disguised as entertainment.” India, who is known to be a dirt bike enthusiast—Hemsworth shared clips of her jumping hills on her bike last November—seemed unfazed by the chaos in the ring. However, the backlash was swift.
“Using animals for entertainment has never been cool and will never be cool. Do better,” another wrote, with one adding, “We love you so much Chris but let’s not normalise animal cruelty and abuse.” This isn’t the first time Hemsworth has showcased his children’s adventurous spirits. The actor and his wife, Elsa Pataky, share three kids: India, and twin boys Sasha and Tristan, who are 12.
While India is the only girl in the family, she can more than keep up with her brothers. The contrast between the celebratory tone of the father and the critical tone of the animal welfare community creates a fascinating tension. Is this a wholesome story of a girl breaking barriers, or is it a promotional post that inadvertently highlights the contentious nature of rodeo culture? Chris Hemsworth is left standing in the middle of the ring, holding a trophy in one hand and a PR crisis in the other.
