It looks like Leonardo DiCaprio has some SERIOUS explaining to do!
The actor has recently come under fire after PETA criticized his decision to work with a chimpanzee in the upcoming film The Wolf Of Wall Street!
In what appears to be a harmless clip (in the GIF above), Leo can be seen holding a particularly stylish monkey who for some reason is wearing a pair of roller skates. (Siiiiigh.)
Well, the organization claims that the monkey was provided the Rosaire family who are allegedly known to treat their animal actors poorly. But, they didn’t just say Leo shouldn’t have acted in a scene with the monkey in the first place, but they’re saying he should flat out REFUSE to work with animal actors ever again!
PETA primatologist Julia Gallucci spoke out about the scene, saying:
“Someone as committed to environmental concerns as Leonardo DiCaprio should know better than to support the well-documented cruelty involved in using great apes for entertainment. PETA hopes the next time Leo receives a script with an ape ├óΓé¼╦£actor├óΓé¼Γäó in it, he├óΓé¼Γäóll remember that these sensitive animals are stolen from their mothers at birth and subjected to physical abuse ├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥ and he├óΓé¼Γäóll demand a rewrite.”
PETA didn’t stop there either, as they even started an online petition asking him to never work with animal actors again!!
While this might seem like a tall order, it actually isn’t a bad idea!
As PETA points out, treating animals poorly under any circumstances is unacceptable, and if a high profile actor such as Leo takes a stand he could make a HUGE difference in the use of animal actors in the future!