Jay Mohr Trades Blows With PETA Over Dez Bryant's Monkey
"Can't you reasonably assume a monkey owned by a millionaire is being treated ethically?"
Jay Mohr has Dez Bryant's back. Or maybe he has his monkey's back.
The Jerry Maguire actor and sports radio personality got into it with PETA on Monday after the animal right's advocacy group demanded that the Dallas Cowboys' star wide receiver relinquish the monkey he recently purchased.
Bryant posted a picture of the animal over social media last week.
On Monday, PETA demanded the animal be set free in a sanctuary and said it requested law enforcement to look into the matter.
Monkeys belong in the wild! @DezBryant of Dallas Cowboys should send his to a sanctuary. https://t.co/rreicHj9zZ pic.twitter.com/KQFvkXP23Z
— PETA (@peta) November 2, 2015
“Monkeys belong in the wild — not in the hands of football players who acquire exotic animals just to make a splash on Instagram,” Brittany Peet, PETA deputy director of captive animal law enforcement, said in a statement. “This baby capuchin was torn away from his mother shortly after birth and needs special care that can now only be provided by wildlife experts who will be able to ensure that he gets the love and attention he deserves.”
Mohr jumped into the conversation later in the day and proceeded to go back and forth with PETA about whether it was fair for the animal to live in captivity.
Get it together @PETA You're mad at @dallascowboys @Dezbryant for owning a monkey? Seriously? Have you fed any PEOPLE today? #jaymohrsports
— Jay Mohr (@jaymohr37) November 2, 2015
PETA hit right back.
@jaymohr37 Wild animals are not "pets." We're an ANIMAL rights org. So yes, our community animal project fed neglected animals today. You?
— PETA (@peta) November 2, 2015
And so it went.
. @peta Can't u reasonably assume a monkey owned by a millionaire is being treated ethically? @dezbryant loves that monkey. #jaymohrsports
— Jay Mohr (@jaymohr37) November 2, 2015
In a now deleted tweet, Mohr said he did "make my monthly donation" to The Los Angeles food bank.
Later, Mohr said he was glad PETA existed.
Sincerely @peta I'm a huge animal lover+animals need advocates like u. Most Americans just wished u picked your spots a little better
— Jay Mohr (@jaymohr37) November 2, 2015
Bryant has yet to weigh in on the monkey controversy.