Let Jimmy Fallon Know That Animals Shouldn't Be Used for Entertainment

Compassionate people agree that animals don't belong in the circus, at SeaWorld, or on late-night talk shows. A recent article in National Geographic went into great detail about the abuse and deprivation endured by animals used in entertainment. When celebrities interact with animals on talk shows, they help to legitimize disreputable acts and facilities that encourage people to handle, photograph, and even ride animals.

In addition to the dangerous message that these appearances send, the often-frightened animals used on talk shows endure excessive handling and are crated for extended periods of time, transported to and from sets, and displayed in front of noisy crowds. When not "working," they're often kept in close confinement and deprived of opportunities for exercise, enrichment, and companionship—which poses a significant threat to their health, safety, and well-being.

Animals used for human handling—such as the monkey who appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in April—are typically separated from their mothers as infants, a practice that's cruel to both babies and mothers and denies the infants the maternal care and nurturing that they need for normal development.

Public opposition to the use of animals for entertainment is stronger than it's ever been, and The Tonight Show is beginning to listen. A representative from the show let PETA know that an episode set to air on September 26, 2019, with exhibitor Robert Irwin would not feature wild animals! As promised, no animals appeared on the show, but PETA won't back down until the show agrees never to force wild animals to appear on the stage again. Use the form below to contact Jimmy Fallon on Twitter and urge him to commit to not exploiting wild animals on The Tonight Show going forward.