Leonardo DiCaprio movie accused of abusing chimpanzee

A US animal rights group is calling for a boycott of Martin Scorsese’s new movie ‘The Wolf Of Wall Street’, over scenes involving Leonard DiCaprio and a roller-skating chimpanzee.

Friends Of Animals claims the chimp in question, called Chance, may have received permanent psychological damage from the stressful experience of acting on-set

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A statement on the group’s website reads: “There is sure to buzz about whether or not Leonardo DiCaprio, who plays real life law-breaking stockbroker Jordan Belfort, will get an Oscar nod.”

“But what likely won’t be talked about is one of DiCaprio’s co-stars, a chimpanzee named Chance who portrays his character’s pet, and the long-term damage that is done to primates exploited in entertainment,” the message continues.

The group alleges filmmakers “forced” Chance into acting, resulting in “negative and neurotic behaviours and an inability to socially interact with other chimps”. One activist is now reportedly planning to confront Scorsese and DiCaprio about the issue at the New York premiere of the film on 17 December.

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‘The Wolf Of Wall Street’ is based on the excess-filled memoirs of fraudster Jordan Belfort, who infamously made $49 million in a year (aged just 26) through a ruthless “boiler room” scam.

Belfort was eventually convicted of money laundering in 1998, and served a 22 month prison sentence. He was ordered to pay back $110 million to the clients he ripped off.

Real-life pal Danny Porush, played by under a different name in the movie by Jonah Hill, has denied the events in question ever actually happened, telling Mother Jones Magazine: "There was never a chimpanzee in the office. There were no animals in the office … I would also never abuse an animal in any way."

‘The Wolf Of Wall Street’, co-starring Matthew McConaughey, Jean Dujardin and Kyle Chandler is out in the UK 17 January 2014.