PETA urges people not to see 'Jackass Forever', alleges animal cruelty

PETA is urging people to boycott Jackass Forever, the newest release in the Jackassfranchise due to alleged animal abuse.

In a public statement, PETA said the film had potentially violated California animal protection laws by provoking several animals into performing stunts leading the organization to push for a criminal investigation.

Some of the stunts questioned include goading a bull into hitting Johnny Knoxville, provoking a snake to bite Sean McInerney, endangering a tarantula, provoking honeybees into stinging Steve-O’s penis, and repeatedly hitting a scorpion so it would sting Rachel Wolfson.

“Jackass stunts are violent and vulgar, but if the talent is willing and the wounds are self-inflicted, that’s one thing—however, it’s quite another when animals are exploited, harassed, and harmed: That’s cruelty,” said PETA President Ingrid Newkirk.

Sign up for our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter

The animal activist group sent Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer and Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Kimberly Abourezk a letter requesting a formal investigation into the film's use of animals.

Jackass Forever is the fifth installment in the Jackass franchise and is already a massive success. The film has netted over $23.5 million in its opening week making it the #1 movie at the box office.

Whether or not an animal cruelty investigation happens, PETA is going to have to do a lot more to deter people from seeing the movie.

Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.