I’ve never seen the Jackass movies, but based on the trailers they seem like they would have been funny to me 10 years ago. Granted, humor can transcend many different levels and I’m sure there are amusing moments, but….
Steve-O, the star and creator of Jackass, is lashing out at Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus after deciding to tell the world about the animal abuse he witnessed under the big top. In an interview with PETA, Steve called circus bosses “a bunch of dicks” and remembered elephants routinely being struck with steel-tipped bullhooks. From the interview,
“You read about a lot of elephants going berserk in the circus, and it’s obvious why they go berserk,” he said. “It’s because they’re fricking tortured every day. I saw it myself.”
Steve spent time at the Ringling Brothers Circus during his days of training to be a clown. PETA chipped in some additional information: “Unlike Steve-O, animals who are abused and exploited by Ringling Bros. and other circuses are not willing participants. They are torn from their families, deprived of all that is natural and important to them, and forced to perform stupid tricks and stunts like riding bicycles, jumping through flaming hoops, and standing on their heads—things that you would never see them doing in the wild. They are kept in filthy, crowded trailers, boxcars, and cages and are dragged around the country for up to 50 weeks a year.”
So much for the childhood innocence of the circus. You can see Steve-O’s interview below:
Interview: Peta2 via Vegan Porn
About Michael dEstries
Michael has been blogging since 2005 on issues such as sustainability, renewable energy, philanthropy, and healthy living. He regularly contributes to a slew of publications, as well as consulting with companies looking to make an impact using the web and social media. He lives in Ithaca, NY with his family on an apple farm.View all posts by Michael dEstries →
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