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Action Alert!

SNL Uses Chimp for So-Called "Entertainment"

The following is a message from the New England Anti-Vivisection Society (NEAVS) regarding the Nov. 3, 2001 episode of Saturday Night Live in which a chimpanzee was ridiculed and terrified for so-called "entertainment." Please make your views on this deplorable practice known to NBC.

I was just watching Saturday Night Live and there was a skit about bad theater that was supposedly written by "a monkey." The plot put a human primate family acting and responding to each other in chimpanzee behaviors... very ridiculing. In the end, as I dreaded when I saw the plot, they brought out a young chimpanzee on a very thick collar and thick chain hideously dressed up as a movie director (beret, scarf and pants).

She/he was obviously confused at all the commotion, uncertain and scared. The handler was pulling and poking her/him to get her/his attention and the desired behaviors -- hands waving and that make believe "smile."

For as long as the entertainment industry sees chimpanzees as "objects" to be used as "props", our work to free them from laboratories suffers as well. Send a loud message to the entertainment industry that chimpanzees are thinking, feeling, intelligent animals deserving of our respect and that they are not "props" for entertainment profit. Whenever you see a chimpanzee used in an ad, movie or tv show voice your outrage and help us stop this cruelty...your action will have repercussions for chimpanzees held captive in labs as well.

I called NBC immediately and expressed my disgust and outrage. I am sure you will want to do the same.

Sincerely,
Theodora Capaldo, Ed.D.
President/Executive Director

What You Can Do

CALL: 212-664-2333
EMAIL: nbcshows@nbc.com
WRITE: NBC Viewer Relations, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, NY, NY 10112

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