Aug14
Victory! Retailer Pulls 'Big Chimpin' Video
Posted at 02:08 PM | Permalink
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Comments (12)
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The hip swimwear and clothing company Bonobos has shown that it's a champion for chimpanzees by pulling from its Web site a video that featured a chimpanzee cavorting in swim trunks.
Once Bonobos gave it some thought (maybe after its staff filled up on what must be their favorite brain food), it didn't seem like such a great (ape) idea to support an industry that captures baby apes and keeps them isolated in cages. The company realized that ads making apes look cute and clownish misrepresent these wild animals, who often end up dumped in roadside zoos when they get too large and strong to manage.
Here's what the company had to say:
"At the end of the day, we made Big Chimpin' with the best intentions—but we were also a little naive, and we're not afraid to say so. One of our missions as a company is to help out our friends in the Congo who are working so hard to improve the situation there, so in using a real chimp in our video, we were actually doing ourselves a disservice as well."
And what brought about the company's change of conscience? People like you!
"We thank everyone who wrote to us out of concern for Suzy's safety and dignity. In the end, it's because of your thoughtfulness and willingness to speak up that we learned so much!"
Three cheers to Bonobos! It's one more company—like Sprint Nextel, Gap, and SEGA—that has realized that apes do not aspire to be models or actors (even if they do seem cuter and more intelligent than some former child stars).
Posted by Heather Drennan
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Comments
This is just amazing and their response was awesome.
PETA, again, thanks for all that you do. (and yes, i'll send some money soon!) :)
Posted by: Tamra | August 14, 2009 03:41 PM
its victories like this that inspire me!!
Posted by: simara | August 14, 2009 04:05 PM
I really am impressed by the response from this company. It sounded intelligent and dignified.
It takes "big people" to say, hey! we learned something.
REALLY IMPRESSIVE!!
Posted by: Robert | August 14, 2009 04:28 PM
who wants to protest when vick comes to play vs the bears in chicago in nov?
there is no reason he gets to be a celebrity again if he needs the money so bad he can work for the wwf there is no reason he needs to be famous
Posted by: natalie | August 14, 2009 07:09 PM
hmmmmm..... I've actually never heard of this company....but suddenly have the urge to buy their products :) I am impressed!
Posted by: Tabitha | August 14, 2009 08:17 PM
WOW! I have a lot of respect for a company that is willing to admit they made a mistake and take steps to make amends.
Posted by: NT | August 14, 2009 09:24 PM
I'd never heard of this company but am so impressed with their caring and thoughtful response, I'm going to check them out for sure! Thank you PETA and thank you Bonobos! You now have a new costumer!
Posted by: Robert | August 15, 2009 05:26 PM
This is amazing. Their response was wonderful. The fact they can admit they didn't know and learned something is fantastic. Like Tabitha, I never heard of this company either, but I'll be looking at their products and order from them next time I need something. Thank you Bonobos. You sound like a very caring company, and it's people like you who make me still have a little hope for humanity. Thank you for all the work you have done too PETA.
Posted by: Melissa | August 15, 2009 11:54 PM
I am so impressed with this companies response! I have written many companies that have exploited primates and this is the best response I've ever seen. I also appreciate that they posted information about the video being pulled on their website. Now everyone who visits their website knows that using primates in advertisements is wrong. Kudos to them!
Posted by: Julie | August 16, 2009 12:25 AM
I think that their response is too much. I mean, what other companies have given such a response? They might have pulled the ad, but why would they sugar-coat it so much? If you ask me, it seems more like a marketing idea than a change of heart.
Posted by: Edward | August 16, 2009 09:41 PM
I'm glad the company responded like that. For some reason this reminds me of what i was told that i could volunteer at PetLand or something for the community service for high school credit. I would never work there! I live in Chillicothe, coincidently where PetLand is based. So I'd love to help protest or something but i dont think anyone is doing anything...
Posted by: Randy | August 16, 2009 10:23 PM
Save the animals!!! I love the animals!!! WHy must they be treated badly??? SAVE THEM PETA YOUR OUR ONLY HOPE...
Posted by: Animallover | August 17, 2009 06:34 AM