The grand premiere of Bigg Boss 18 introduced a new twist this season by featuring a donkey, named Gadhraj, as a ‘19th contestant’ alongside the 18 human participants, which include a mix of TV personalities, politicians, and social media influencers. While the move sparked curiosity and chatter among the audience, it has also drawn criticism, particularly from animal welfare advocates.
PETA India On Bigg Boss 18
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has voiced its concerns over the inclusion of the donkey in the reality show. On Wednesday, Shaurya Agrawal, an advocacy associate from PETA India, addressed a letter to Bigg Boss host Salman Khan, urging him to intervene. PETA highlighted the distress expressed by the public regarding the use of the animal, noting that viewers have filed numerous complaints.
PETA India’s appeal emphasized that using animals as part of entertainment on set can be harmful and insensitive. They called upon Salman Khan to leverage his influence as a prominent celebrity and host of the show to ensure that the donkey is surrendered to PETA India. They proposed relocating the animal to a sanctuary where it could live among other rescued donkeys, away from the stressful environment of the show.
The organization also pointed out that the donkey’s presence in the house was arranged by one of the contestants, Advocate Sadavarte. PETA India expressed that animals should not be used as props or sources of amusement in such shows, as it goes against ethical entertainment practices.
More Details On The Show
Bigg Boss 18 premiered on October 9 on Colors with a contestant list featuring names like Eisha Singh, Shehzada Dhami, Vivian Dsena, Muskan Bamme and more.