VIDEO ABOVE: WTF - It's easier to get a gun in the US than a Kinder Surprise
Television personality and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has come under fire for a 'disappointing' tweet, responding to the latest string of mass shootings in the United States.
At the weekend, 29 people were killed and more than 50 injured in less than 24 hours in two separate shootings in the states of Ohio and Texas.
The incidents saw an outpouring of grief and reignited a well-worn debate over gun control in the country. DeGrasse Tyson took to Twitter to share his own thoughts.
"Often our emotions respond more to spectacle than to data," the tweet read.
The astrophysicist also included a list of statistics noting the average number of deaths from other causes - including medical errors or car accidents.
The tweet did not go down well online.
Critics included none other than American band, Smash Mouth.
DeGrasse Tyson was slammed for seemingly 'downplaying' the grief that comes with mass shootings.
"Imagine going to the store or a bar and getting shot at or killed or having a loved one shot at or killed and a supposed genius tells 13 million people it's all just a spectacle because, really, statistically, it's not all that bad compared to other ways you could suddenly die," journalist Rich Eisen responded.
Many also highlighted the essential difference between the causes of death deGrasse Tyson mentioned and the mass shooting fatalities: the work that had been done to prevent them.
This needs to be said again, because you don't seem aware of it.
However, there were some supporters the facts he was sharing and what they assumed was the point behind the tweet.
It didn't take long for the tweet to trend online. At the time of publishing, Neil deGrasse Tyson was third on trending in Australia.
The astrophysicist is yet to respond to the backlash, nor remove the tweet.
