PETA rewards Sega for being amigos to chimps

by JC Fletcher { Nov 4th 2008 at 7:13PM }

When PETA saw ads for Samba de Amigo featuring a live chimpanzee, they got a bit outraged (as is their wont). They sent a letter to Sega describing the quite horrible life that goes along with being a Hollywood chimp, including, obviously, separation from family, but also painful training methods and eventual abandonment to even worse conditions. We all like to think that acting chimps retire to slightly downscale, but still opulent, hilltop mansions, but apparently this isn't the case.

Sega responded by pulling the ads from their website and pledging never to cast great apes again -- thus helping to ensure a happier future for chimps. Not to mention a more dignified future. PETA then sent them some vegan chocolate. That's not necessary, PETA, Sega already apologized! We're just glad Sega wasn't shooting ads for Super Monkey Ball.

Gallery: Samba de Amigo

[Via Joystiq]

Tags: gearbox-games, music, peta, rhythm, samba-de-amigo, sega

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Dustin @ Nov 4th 2008 7:38PM

PETA are hypocrites.

Agentx @ Nov 4th 2008 11:34PM

Bold declarative, care to expound?

Dustin @ Nov 5th 2008 1:12AM

No, but I'll let Penn & Teller explain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0exLa6saV9o

Agentx @ Nov 5th 2008 7:22AM

I am genuinely sorry that I don't have a link to a clip of Doug Henning refuting your argument. Regretfully, I acquiesce.

Rocketboy @ Nov 5th 2008 9:17AM

Agentx... You are an ass. Unlike most entertainers out there, Penn & Teller cut through the bs that's out there. You may not agree with them, but when they have an opinion, it's almost always quite well thought out.

Here are some non-entertainer related links for you...
http://www.petakillsanimals.com/

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/06/23/EDG11DC9BK1.DTL

Agentx @ Nov 5th 2008 9:57AM

Rocketboy, I concur with your assessment of my being an ass. I am very familiar with Penn & Teller's work on the behalf of skepticism, being a skeptic myself. I was also a huge fan of their show and agree with many of their positions, but found myself moving away from it in the latter seasons, which seemed more like they were just looking for cute ways to feature nudity.

As for your links, I do find them more informative. Although I think that the key to their demonization relies on the idea that death is the worst thing that could happen. Personally, it's the suffering of any living creature that I find offensive.

hvnlysoldr @ Nov 4th 2008 9:08PM

SEGA's mistreatment and abuse to a blue hedgehog and thousands of his mutant friends is far worse than hiring an acting monkey for Samba. I'm in fact outraged PETA never threatened SEGA for its mistreatment of Sonic.

Tyrone Rugen @ Nov 4th 2008 9:33PM

ARRGH. MONKEYS AREN'T APES.

Anti-Villian @ Nov 5th 2008 12:07AM

How will I make Goerge brake dance now!? *shakes fist*

Seriously though, I would rather be a showbiz ape then one that lives in the jungle and yino, gets logged. IMO. lesser of two evils.

milan @ Nov 5th 2008 12:14AM

Seriously? does a PETA member actually write a letter to any organization that uses an animal in some sort of production? They have a lot of circuses to contact.

Agentx @ Nov 5th 2008 12:19AM

http://www.circuses.com/

KaBob799 @ Nov 5th 2008 1:47AM

Weird, I didn't know people took PETA seriously.

Hamster @ Nov 5th 2008 8:10AM

The monkey is the least offensive thing in that commercial. If only there was a charity for waggle abuse...

Triptych @ Nov 5th 2008 10:22AM

Hey, I've been separated from my family, painfully trained to perform menial tasks and will eventually be abandoned in the squalor of a nursing home, but PETA does nothing to help! : (

sampark2@uiuc.edu @ Nov 5th 2008 2:14PM

PETA = People Eating Tasty Animals

Jarvis @ Nov 6th 2008 8:46AM

*sigh* Its a frickin monkey. If they aren't suppose to entertain us then why bother keeping them alive?

mikull @ Nov 13th 2008 8:28PM

Based on everything I've seen and experienced personally, I believe PETA resorts to harmful, illegal, hypocritical and terroristic activities in the name of animal rights - and should be shut down.

Sadly, there appears to be many well intentioned people who support PETA - fooled by the savvy guise of guilt tactics and reverse sociological exploits.

Don't take my word for it - or ask me for proof. Do your own nonpartisan research and discover the truth for yourself. The internet is inspirational and informative, but only the beginning in the journey to knowledge and mature convictions.

Good luck!