Presenters Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly were urged to step down for their roles on hit ITV show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in an open letter from animal rights charity PETA.
Ahead of the new series which aired live from Australia for the first time in two years, PETA called out the Geordie duo personally, accusing them of being “complicit in cruelty to animals”.
The letter, written by PETA’s Vice President of Programmes Elisa Allen, explained that by hosting the show, Ant and Dec send a “message to viewers that you think animal abuse is not only acceptable but also entertaining”.
READ MORE: I’m A Celebrity fans baffled as Olivia Attwood admits she ‘pees in the garden’
The show, which has been cheered on by fans for over 20 years, see’s celebs rough it out in the Australian jungle, participating in Bushtucker trials alongside rats, snakes, spiders and other jungle critters as well as live insects during eating challenges.
(Image: James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
PETA Vice President Elisa Allen condemned Ant and Dec for failing to acknowledge the “suffering, discomfort and fear”.
She wrote: “For 20 years, you have been complicit in the ‘bushtucker trials’, standing by as animals of all descriptions are tormented – and even killed – for TV ratings.
“In this time, you must surely have become aware of the suffering, discomfort, and fear that these unwilling participants endure during the challenges,” they continued.
(Image: ITV)
“Ostriches, crocodiles, snakes, rats, and thousands of insects have been exploited for the show’s puerile pranks – and we fear that the upcoming series will be no different.”
The letter went on to explain how the ITV programme could come up with “clever and captivating tasks that harm no animals” and claimed to have received over 50,000 signatures on their petition to “stop abusing animals” on the ITV show.
(Image: Credit / Daily Star)
Ending the letter, PETA wrote: “So please, hang up your hats and get yourselves out of there – for animals’ sake.”
A spokesperson for I’m A Celeb told The Mirror: “We are always fully transparent about our protocols and we have a very strict environmental plan in place on the show.
“As a production, we comply with all regional and national laws concerning the use of insects, animals and reptiles”.
(Image: ITV)
They concluded: “We cannot stress enough that we have rigorous protocols in place to ensure that animals are handled safely at all times, before, during and after any filming has taken place, in compliance with all regional and national laws.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
