Leonardo DiCaprio Slammed by PETA Over 'Wolf of Wall Street' Chimp Scene

The animal rights organization urges the 'Django Unchained' actor to never work with an ape 'actor' again and demand a rewrite if there's a script with a chimp in it.

Leonardo DiCaprio is under scrutiny by PETA. The animal rights organization criticizes him for appearing with a chimpanzee in "The Wolf of Wall Street", saying "that chimpanzees are abused and taken from their mothers at an early age before being forced into Hollywood."

In Martin Scorsese's biographical black comedy, DiCaprio drags a chimpanzee named Chance through an office party. According to PETA, the animal was provided by the Rosaire family allegedly "notorious for operating a traveling circus that forces chimpanzees to perform cruel and unnatural acts."

The organization additionally claims the Rosaire family has been cited for "multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act." PETA primatologist Julia Gallucci says, "PETA hopes the next time Leo receives a script with an ape 'actor' in it, he'll remember that these sensitive animals are stolen from their mothers at birth and subjected to physical abuse - and he'll demand a rewrite."

The movie will be released in the U.S. on December 25. Supported by Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey and Margot Robbie, it follows a New York stockbroker who refuses to cooperate in a large securities fraud case involving corruption on Wall Street, the corporate banking world, and mob infiltration.