An American influencer who sparked outrage after posting a video of her snatching a baby wombat from its mother while in Australia apologized on Saturday, saying she had acted out of concern for the young animal's welfare.

Influencer Sam Jones -- who sparked backlash after she stole a baby wombat from its mother in Australia -- addressed the criticism in a two-part statement posted on her Instagram.

Social media influencer from the United States, Sam Jones, faced a backlash from netizens after her video of picking up a baby wombat went viral. After the outrage, Jones removed the post from her social media account.