Image: Jackass Forever
“No one is above the law and that while the rest of the world wants to save bees and recognizes animals as sentient individuals, these jackasses exploit and abuse them for fun.”
‘Jackass Forever’ is being slammed for animal cruelty by leading animal charity, PETA.
The latest American reality slapstick comedy is the first Jackass film in 11 years, and sees the crew perform painful, dangerous, and often disgusting stunts for entertainment.
While the Paramount Pictures movie has debuted to positive reviews and is predicted to dominate the box office, it has sparked an uproar for exploiting, harassing and harming animals.
According to PETA, the stunts reportedly filmed in Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo Counties, may have broken California laws ‘on bullfighting and similar exhibitions, causing any animal to fight with a human, and cruelty to animals’.
Jackass Forever stunts
The film includes guest stars from the likes of Machine Gun Kelly, Eric Andre, Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O among others.
In one particular scene a swarm of bees is provoked to sting a ‘jackass’ in the genital area, killing many of them in return.
In another, a castmember is seen allegedly ‘hitting’ a scorpion until it stings the other person in the face.
These cruel stunts have prompted PETA to write a letter to Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo County prosecutors urging them to ‘investigate and take appropriate legal action against those involved in filming scenes depicting cruelty to animals in the movie’.
‘Jackasses exploit and abuse animals for fun’
“If Steve-O and Johnny Knoxville want to make a career out of nasty little boy fantasies, they’re entitled to, as long as they don’t stress, harm, poke, prod, scare, or bother animals who are used as living props for their idiocy,” the vegan charity wrote in a statement.
“PETA is reminding city and county prosecutors that no one is above the law and that while the rest of the world wants to save bees and recognizes animals as sentient individuals, these jackasses exploit and abuse them for fun.”
‘Boycott the film’
In a follow up letter, PETA also called on authorities to conduct a criminal investigation into the film’s production, and urged followers to boycott the film.
“This renewed push for an investigation and potential criminal charges sends a clear message to Hollywood that using and abusing animals in films and television shows is cruel, unimaginative, and (we believe) illegal,” PETA said.
“Animals are not actors—they didn’t consent to these horrific stunts, and they shouldn’t be used for our entertainment.”
‘Violent and vulgar’
Other vile stunts in the film include goading a bull to charge at a participant, instigate a snake to bite someone on the nose, and have a tarantula trapped in a plastic tube between two people’s heads.
Ingrid Newkirk is PETA President. She, in a statement, added: “Jackass stunts are violent and vulgar, but if the talent is willing and the wounds are self-inflicted, that’s one thing.
“However, it’s quite another when animals are exploited, harassed, and harmed: That’s cruelty.”
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