PETA Writes Open Letter to Dexter Holland Critical of New Offspring Video Starring Chimps
The Offspring released the music video for their latest single ‘We Never Have Sex Anymore’ last week, and its use of chimpanzees has resulted in some negative attention from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA.)
In a letter shared to PETA’s website to frontman Dexter Holland, PETA’s Senior Manager of Animals in Film and Television Lauren Thomasson writes, “The out-of-touch video for “We Never Have Sex Anymore” risks resurrecting the chimpanzee trade in Hollywood. Dressing up chimpanzees, presenting their fear
grimaces as ‘smiles,’ and placing them side by side with celebrities is a dangerous messaging trifecta, and there isn’t a primate expert alive who doesn’t condemn this kind of old-school exploitation. If you were going for counterculture, you hit it out of the park.”
Thomasson continued, “We believe that the chimpanzees in the video came from the notorious animal supplier Steve Martin, who has been cited numerous times for failing to meet the minimum standards set by the federal Animal Welfare Act, including for locking chimpanzees and orangutans in cramped, barren ‘night housing’ for up to 18 hours a day. He also has a history of disposing of unwanted chimpanzees and other wild animals. Two of the chimpanzees he used ended up at the atrocious G.W. Zoo, which was featured in Netflix’s ‘Tiger King.'”
Thomasson’s letter concluded, “There are plenty of things we all miss about the ’90s—but animal exploitation isn’t among them. Every minute your video remains online, it risks legitimizing a cruel industry, propping up the exotic ‘pet’ trade, and reversing years of animal advocacy work that has nearly ended the use of chimpanzees in Hollywood. These chimpanzees’ tragic story is something that just can’t repeat. We urge you to pull the video immediately.”
As previously reported, the video for “We Never Have Sex Anymore” centers around two married chimps that apparently never have sex anymore and shows the husband chimp head to a strip club where he parties with John Stamos.
Holland and The Offspring have yet to respond to PETA’s letter as of publishing.
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