I'm a Celeb Contestants Charged in Rat-Eating

Animal-rights activists not amused by stunt
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Dec 6, 2009 9:05 AM CST
I'm a Celeb Contestants Charged in Rat-Eating
Stuart Manning arrives for the British Soap Awards 2008 at BBC Television Centre on May 3, 2008 in London, England.   (Getty Images)

Turns out that killing and eating a rat on I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here was a bad idea on many levels—including the animal cruelty charges that two contestants are now facing. Series winner and chef Gino D'Acampo and actor Stuart Manning are facing charges in Australia after animal-rights activists filed a complaint, reports the AP.

"The killing of a rat for a performance is not acceptable. The concern is this was done purely for the cameras," said a New South Wales RSPCA rep, adding that the show did not have an animal-rights officer on-set, as is normally required when animals are involved in a production. D'Acampo and Manning face a maximum of three years in prison.
(More I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X