Monkey Allies to Rally Against Angels’ Animal Exploitation

For Immediate Release:
August 17, 2023

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

At the Los Angeles Angels’ “Rally Monkey” night on Friday, a troop of PETA supporters armed with signs that read, “Leave Monkeys Alone!” will hold their own rally outside the stadium. PETA is calling on the team to stop exploiting monkeys when it tries to stir up the crowd during home games that the Angels are losing by playing footage of the “Rally Monkey”—a capuchin named Katie—dressed in an Angels’ uniform and performing demeaning stunts. The team also sometimes uses live monkeys for stressful photo ops and public appearances.

Where:      Outside Angel Stadium, 2000 E. Gene Autry Way, Anaheim

When:        Friday, August 18, 5:30 p.m.

“Seeing a monkey dressed up and doing silly tricks encourages people to view them as ‘pets,’ which fuels the exotic-animal trade and props up breeders who have no regard for monkeys’ welfare or the law,” says primatologist and PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Welfare Debbie Metzler. “PETA is calling on the Angels to step up to the plate, end this disgraceful gimmick, and replace these exploitative videos and photo ops with an animal-free version.”

Actor Alec Baldwin previously wrote to the Angels’ owner to ask him to end the use of the “Rally Monkey,” and PETA notes that if fans are inspired to buy monkeys as “pets,” they’ll be breaking California law—as singer Chris Brown’s monkey dealer recently found out when he lost his license after PETA sounded the alarm over Brown’s possession of a monkey in that state.