An animal rights charity, PETA, has called for Ant and Dec to step down from their roles as hosts of the popular show “I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here” due to concerns about animal cruelty. The duo, who have been presenting the show for 22 years, have faced criticism from PETA in the past for the mistreatment of animals during the show’s challenges. In an open letter, PETA urges Ant and Dec to resign from the show, citing the use of animals like spiders, snakes, rats, crocodiles, and cockroaches in the infamous Bushtucker Trials. The charity’s petition, signed by 80,000 supporters, calls on ITV to end the alleged abuse of animals on the show.
PETA has even gone as far as naming a rescued African bullfrog after Ant and Dec’s 1994 hit song “Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble” as part of their campaign. The charity’s vice president, Elisa Allen, stated that many animals, including frogs like Rhumble, have been subjected to torment and even death on the show over the past two decades. The letter to Ant and Dec highlights the unethical treatment of animals and appeals to the presenters to take a stand against animal exploitation by leaving the show. PETA emphasises that by stepping down, Ant and Dec would not only show support for sentient beings but also push the show producers to create new and ethical challenges.
A spokesperson for PETA clarified that male African bullfrogs, like Rhumble, exhibit nurturing qualities such as digging burrows to aid their offspring, contrasting the show’s portrayal of animals in distressing situations. The letter also mentions previous actions taken by PETA against the show, including protests at ITV shareholder meetings and offers from the organisation’s founder to leave her rump to the show’s producers in her will in protest of the alleged animal abuse. PETA’s letter calls on the presenting duo to consider the welfare of animals and align their actions with ethical principles.
The charity stresses the significance of Ant and Dec’s departure from the show in light of the growing public concern over the treatment of animals for entertainment purposes. PETA’s campaign, supported by thousands of petition signatories and viewer complaints to Ofcom, aims to hold the show accountable for its treatment of animals and encourages a shift towards more humane challenges. The plea to Ant and Dec underscores the ethical responsibility of public figures and the impact of their actions on animal welfare in the entertainment industry.
In response to the call from PETA, the presenting pair have yet to make a public statement regarding their future on the show. The controversy surrounding animal welfare in “I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here” raises questions about the ethical standards upheld in reality television and the responsibility of hosts in advocating for the welfare of animals. As the debate continues, the decision of Ant and Dec regarding their involvement in the show may have broader implications for the entertainment industry and the treatment of animals in the spotlight.