Bigg Boss 18 makers in trouble: PETA urges Salman Khan to ¡®surrender the donkey¡¯ after backlash
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has asked Bollywood celebrity and Bigg Boss 18?host Salman Khan to persuade the show's creators not to use animals in the production. This has come after the makers got backlash for keeping a donkey on the show.
A diverse range of TV actors, politicians, and even social media influencers were introduced as Bigg Boss 18 contestants recently. But the viewer's curiosity was piqued most by the "19th contestant." This week, Bigg Boss made the decision to bring an actual animal into the Bigg Boss house: a donkey named Gadhraj. Social media users criticized the makers for having an animal inside the house when it was first shown on stage. People had asked PETA to take action and rescue the donkey. After much thought, PETA has now responded and has asked Salman to surrender the donkey.
? BREAKING! This donkey, named Max, seen in the promo, it is the pet of contestant Advocate Gunaratna Sadavarte, will be staying inside the #BiggBoss18 house with the contestants. ? pic.twitter.com/vku3iMA2PW
¡ª #BiggBoss_Tak? (@BiggBoss_Tak) October 5, 2024
What did PETA say in the letter?
Bigg Boss 18 host Salman Khan received a letter on Wednesday from Shaurya Agrawal, an advocacy associate with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.
The letter read, as per IANS, ¡°We are being inundated with complaints by members of the public who are deeply distressed over the keeping of a donkey in the Bigg Boss house. Their concerns are valid and must not be ignored.¡± ¡°As one of India¡¯s most influential stars and the host of Bigg Boss, you have the power to set a compassionate example. We respectfully ask that you use this influence to urge the show¡¯s producers to avoid using animals as props for entertainment.¡±
PETA wrote letter to Salman regarding use of donkey in Bigg Boss 18. Good it was noticed & considered at start of season else makers wil use him for 4 months.
¡ª ?§ß§ñ¦Ô§ä¦É? (@Shruti12am) October 9, 2024
Just for sake of content this people are using it.
This way 1st elimination of season will be of Donkey?#BiggBoss18 pic.twitter.com/AiTSd9oiTO
Additionally, the letter made it clear that it is not acceptable to use animals on set. Donkeys are predatory animals and are inherently apprehensive. The lights, noises, and bustle that are typical of all show sets would be terrifying and confusing to them and other animals. Viewers are saddened to see the donkey kept in a small, cramped environment standing in waste, and it is evident to them that a show set is no place for an animal.
Bigg Boss 18 contestants
Avinash Mishra, Hema Sharma, Chum Darang, Nyra Banerjee, Muskan Bamne, Shehzada Dhami, Advocate Gunaratna Sadavarte, Rajat Dalal, Eisha Singh, Shilpa Shirodkar, Karan Veer Mehra, Chahat Pandey, and Arfeen Khan with his wife Sara are among the contestants on the show.
For the unversed, Bigg Boss 18 began airing on Colors TV and OTT platform JioCinema from 6th October 2024.
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Iraa Paul writes for Indiatimes Entertainment section - She has equal passion for hot coffee and hot OTT content. She is a pro at suggesting movies and series to watch on the weekend or when you are having a bad day.
