• by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, September 11, 2024

The death of a chimp on the HBO docuseries “Chimp Crazy” has led to an accusation that Leonardo DiCaprio is insensitive to the plight of primates in captivity. 

A press release from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) that arrived Monday is the second one received by the TV Blog from an animal rights group stemming from “Chimp Crazy.”

PETA’s accusation is based on DiCaprio’s 2013 movie, “The Wolf of Wall Street,” which featured a chimp named Chance.

PETA claims that DiCaprio (above photo, left) ignored PETA’s plea for his help to save the ape from a life of misery, and says the chimp was cast in the movie at DiCaprio’s suggestion, although the organization gives no evidence to support this.

It is also reasonable to wonder how the actor would have come to be involved in a casting decision at all, either human or animal.

“Chimp Crazy” premiered last month on HBO and Max. The series is about the pathetic lives of chimps that have been used and abused as ill-advised house pets and unwilling performers in self-styled zoos and roadside attractions.

Among other things, the series focuses on Tonia Haddix of Missouri, who says she is in love with a retired performing chimp named Tonka (above photo, right).

But the stories of other chimps were told too, including the chimp named Chance, whose story ended with his death at age 15 in a “seedy private compound” in the fourth and final episode of “Chimp Crazy,” according to PETA.

PETA’s version of Chance’s story has the animal “torn away from his mother and sold as an infant to Pam Rosaire, who forced him to perform in circus-style shows at a roadside zoo while being yanked by a rope around his neck.”

PETA claims DiCaprio “learned about Chance’s miserable background over a decade ago,” before the release of “The Wolf of Wall Street.” But again, PETA provides no evidence to support this claim.

Now, PETA is demanding that DiCaprio “commit to never again use any primates in his productions by signing [PETA’s] Primate Protection Pledge.”

In making this demand, PETA seems to be operating under the assumption that DiCaprio has a few primate productions percolating at present.

But unless he is planning on a remake of “Bedtime For Bonzo,” the TV Blog doubts that he has plans to co-star with a chimp anytime soon.

In a follow-up email to the TV Blog, a PETA spokeswoman said the organization is also asking Martin Scorsese, director of “The Wolf of Wall Street,” to sign the same pledge.

PETA feels that the actor and the director are both responsible for “forcing” Chance to appear in the movie in roller skates.

The other animal rights group that contacted the TV Blog was the Washington, D.C.-based Animal Welfare Institute.

In a press release last month, the AWI expressed its hope that “Chimp Crazy” would draw attention to the abuse of chimps in private hands and help gain bipartisan support for the Captive Primate Safety Act now wending its way through Congress.

The AWI made no mention of Leonardo DiCaprio or any other stars who may have acted alongside performing chimps.

On the subject of stars, “Chimp Crazy” featured actor Alan Cummings speaking out on behalf of Tonka and his alleged mistreatment at the hands of Haddix.

Cummings co-starred with Tonka in the heartwarming 1997 movie “Buddy.” Apparently, the actor and the chimp really bonded during the making of “Buddy” and remained close friends.

No reactions or statements from DiCaprio or Scorsese could be found online on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of “CBS Sunday Morning,” 2021.