In the glittering world of Hollywood, it’s easy to get swept up in the spectacle of television and film. But behind the scenes, not every performer is a willing participant — and some, like Katie and Allie, have no voice to speak out at all. These two capuchin monkeys, recently featured in HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones, aren’t actors. They’re victims.
Katie and Allie, like so many wild animals used for entertainment, are ripped from their natural lives and forced into unnatural roles. They are denied everything that makes life meaningful and healthy for their species: the ability to socialize freely, explore their environment, and live without human control or exploitation. Instead, they are trained through coercive methods, often involving fear, punishment, or food deprivation, to perform tricks that appear “cute” or “funny” on screen.
But the truth is far from entertaining.
Primates are highly intelligent and social animals with complex emotional lives. When used in film and television, their basic needs are routinely ignored. What viewers see as a brief, light-hearted moment is built on a foundation of suffering — months or years of isolation, mistreatment, and forced labor. Shows like The Righteous Gemstones may feature them for only a few seconds, but those seconds come at a cost: a lifetime of exploitation.
The use of real monkeys in entertainment also sends a dangerous message. It reinforces the myth that wild animals can be domesticated or treated as pets — a misconception that fuels the illegal wildlife trade and leads to further suffering for animals around the globe.
It’s time for HBO — and all entertainment companies — to do better.
With today’s advanced CGI and animatronics, there is simply no excuse for using live primates in film and TV. Audiences are becoming more aware and less tolerant of animal cruelty disguised as comedy or drama. The industry must evolve to reflect a growing public demand for ethical, cruelty-free content.
@HBO: Stop exploiting monkeys.
Katie and Allie deserve to live in peace, not on a set. Sustainable Action Now urges HBO to take a stand for animal welfare and pledge to end the use of real primates in its productions. Entertainment should never come at the cost of suffering.
Let’s choose compassion. Let’s act now.