I’m A Celebrity has again been accused of normalising the mistreatment of animals for “entertainment” by global animal charity PETA.
The charity, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, has been staunchly advocating for years for the ITV show set in the Australian jungle to reconsider its use of animals, which uses all manner of reptiles and creepy crawlies in both its physical tasks and eating trials.
In its latest attack on the hit show, which returns for its 24th series on Sunday, PETA's Vice President of Programmes Elisa Allen has accused producers of “sending a message that abusing animals is acceptable or entertaining”.
She said: 'Despite knowing the suffering, discomfort, and fear that the unwilling animal participants endure during the show’s idiotic challenges, ITV seems perfectly happy to continue to send the dangerous message that abusing animals is acceptable or even entertaining.
“But it isn’t funny to see shy snakes shrink away from celebrities’ shrieks or cockroaches confined to an inescapable chamber with a flailing human.
“Treating animals like inanimate props for puerile pranks ignores all we’ve learned about the other remarkable beings we share the world with.
“PETA urges viewers to change the channel on this circus until producers get animals out of there.”
A show spokesman for I'm A Celeb said: “As a production, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! complies with all regional and national laws concerning the use of all animals, including reptiles and insects.
“We inform the RSPCA NSW of all of our activities on the show and they have an open invitation to attend the site at any time. At each of the Bushtucker Trials which feature animals, we have qualified and experienced animal handlers on site.
“The team at I’m A Celebrity… have many years of experience in producing the show and have rigorous protocols in place to ensure that animals are handled safely before, during and after filming, welfare and safety is always our primary priority.”
The show has used animals in many of their trials since its first series in 2002.
In 2021, the Ant and Dec-fronted series reportedly saw more than 13,000 complaints over the use of animals with the RSPCA saying they are 'concerned' with the way I'm A Celebrity “portrays” animals.
This May, PETA crashed an ITV shareholders meeting to protest what they claimed was the suffering of animals on I'm A Celebrity.
Wearing frog masks and holding a banner that read “ITV: It's Cruelty to Animals... Get It out of I'm a Celeb!”, they were escorted out.
