The movie, Michael, will release on April 24.
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AHEAD of the global release of “Michael,” the biographical film on Michael Jackson, Humane World for Animals has raised concerns over the portrayal of wild animals kept as pets in the production, particularly a chimpanzee named Bubbles.
The organisation says the film presents Bubbles as a “manageable and affectionate companion living in a domestic setting,” a depiction it argues masks the realities of keeping primates in captivity.
Humane World for Animals said such portrayals can have wider consequences. It stated: “Romanticized portrayals of wild animals as companions in movies can fuel demand for these species as pets and put more animals at risk of capture from the wild or lifelong suffering in private homes.”
The organisation added that even if animals are created using computer-generated imagery, such representations can still influence public perception by reinforcing the idea that wild animals are suited to domestic life.
It cited past film-linked demand spikes, including the 2003 release of Finding Nemo, which led to increased demand for clownfish, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, which was associated with higher demand for turtles as pets.
Ahead of the film’s release, Audrey Delsink, senior director for wildlife at Humane World for Animals, said chimpanzees have needs that cannot be met in private homes.
“Wild animals like chimpanzees have complex physical, social and behavioral needs that cannot be met in private homes, no matter how well-intentioned the owner,” she said. “Although these animals can survive in domestic captivity, survival must not be confused with well-being.”
She added: “We urge the public to recognize that wild animals belong in their natural habitats. Romanticized portrayals of wild animals as companions in movies can fuel demand for these species as pets and put more animals at risk of capture from the wild or lifelong suffering in private homes.”
Delsink also referred to the case of Bubbles, noting that chimpanzees retain natural instincts even in captivity and can pose risks as they mature. She said that as they grow larger and more difficult to manage, they are sometimes rehomed or transferred, which can have welfare consequences.
“Chimpanzees like Bubbles are also incredibly strong animals who can pose a real danger to the public once they reach maturity,” she said. “Like all wild animals kept in close contact with humans, Bubbles retained his natural instincts, despite being held in captivity. As is so often the case, once he grew larger, stronger and more dangerous to manage, he was eventually given to a California animal trainer and in 2005 transferred to a Florida accredited sanctuary.”
She added: “Keeping primates as pets and dumping or rehoming them once they are no longer cute and manageable results in physical and mental stress, with long-term harmful effects on the animal’s welfare.”
Humane World for Animals also noted that Bubbles was born in a biomedical laboratory in Texas in the 1980s before being obtained by Michael Jackson and later transferred to a sanctuary via a trainer in California in 2005.
Kathleen Conlee, vice president for animal research issues at the organisation, said chimpanzees are highly social and intelligent animals, particularly following exposure to laboratory environments.
“Having worked directly with chimpanzees from laboratory settings, I know firsthand how intelligent and social these animals are and what they need as they heal from such traumatic conditions,” she said. “Portraying chimpanzees as manageable companions ignores their complex needs and the lasting harm that can result when they are kept in human-controlled environments, while also shaping public perceptions in ways that normalize keeping wild animals for entertainment or private use.”
The organisation said the issue is particularly relevant in Europe, which it described as a major market and transit hub for wild animals kept as pets, with millions estimated to be living in private households.
Humane World for Animals said it encourages audiences to look beyond on-screen portrayals and understand the realities of keeping wild animals as pets, adding that wild animals should not be treated as companions or entertainment but as sentient beings whose needs cannot be met in domestic settings.
The organisation also outlined its sanctuary work in Liberia, the United States, Costa Rica and Guatemala, where it says it cares for animals rescued from laboratories, the pet trade and captivity.