The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has called upon Bollywood superstar and Bigg Boss 18 host Salman Khan to appeal to show’s makers not to use animals in the controversial reality show.
In its letter to Salman, PETA India addressed him in the subject line ‘Urgent Request to Keep Animals Out of Bigg Boss,’ stating that there are complaints about “keeping of a donkey in Bigg Boss house.”
“Members of the public are being inundated with complaints who are deeply distressed over the keeping of a donkey in the Bigg Boss house,” the letter read. “It’s their concerns, and they deserve not to be ignored.”
The letter urged the actor to take advantage of being “India’s most influential stars and host of Bigg Boss” to convince the makers of the reality show to avoid using animals as props for entertainment.
The letter said the measure would not only “situate a powerful precedent” but “will also prevent stress for the animals and upset for viewers.”
The letter firmly mentioned that using an animal on the show set is no “laughing matter”. “As prey animals, donkeys are naturally nervous. They, and other animals, would find the lights, sounds and clamor that is standard on all show sets confusing and frightening. That a show set is no place for an animal is obvious to viewers who are saddened to see the donkey kept in a small, confined space standing in waste.”
