Looking Back at ‘Chimp Crazy’
Star Tonia Haddix’s History as Self-Proclaimed ‘Dolly Parton of Chimps’.
Tonia Haddix’s passion for chimpanzees is the subject of Max’s Chimp Crazy docuseries,
but she doesn’t feel it is accurate. “As far as overall, the documentary, I
just feel like that it’s really cheeky and pretty scripted and definitely
not accurate,” she told Australian radio’s “Carrie and Tommy Show” in
a Thursday, August 29, interview. the documentary — the first episode
was released earlier this week — Haddix refers to herself as the “Dolly
Parton of chimps,” since she has claimed to own at least seven monkeys in her
lifetime. One of her pet chimps was Tonka, best known for Hollywood roles in Brendan Fraser’s
George of the Jungle and Alan Cumming’s Buddy. “Tonka and I just found each other,”
Haddix gushed in Chimp Crazy. “It was meant to be. It was just natural. And
Tonka loved me as much as I loved Tonka.” Looking Back at ‘Chimp Crazy’
Star Tonia Haddix’s History as Self-Proclaimed ‘Dolly Parton of Chimps’.
What Is Chimp Crazy Star Tonia Haddix Up to Now: Courtesy of HBO.
Tonia Haddix’s passion for chimpanzees is the subject of Max’s Chimp Crazy
docuseries, but she doesn’t feel it is accurate. “As far as overall, the documentary, I just
feel like that it’s really cheeky and pretty scripted and definitely not accurate,” she
told Australian radio’s “Carrie and Tommy Show” in a Thursday, August 29, interview.
In the documentary — the first episode was released earlier this week — Haddix refers to
herself as the “Dolly Parton of chimps,” since she has claimed to own at least seven monkeys in
her lifetime. One of her pet chimps was Tonka, best known for Hollywood roles in Brendan Fraser’s
George of the Jungle and Alan Cumming’s Buddy. “Tonka and I just found each other,”
Haddix gushed in Chimp Crazy. “It was meant to be. It was just natural. And
Tonka loved me as much as I loved Tonka.” Vanessa Hudgens and More Stars
Share Cute Pics With Beloved Pets Related: Celebrities With Their Pets Cumming, 59, also appeared in the doc after
costarring with the animal in the 1997 film. “People fall in love with these chimps, and
you can’t tame wild things,” the Scottish actor said in a trailer. “When you’re
in love, your brain is out of control. There’s chemicals and hormones and things
happening to you that makes you irrational.” Haddix’s ownership of Tonka soon sparked
controversy with PETA, which tried to rescue the mammal. PETA sued the Missouri Primate
Foundation, where Haddix kept her pets, in 2017 over its conditions. Haddix was named
in the lawsuit for helping the organization. i stepped up and was willing to come out there
and provide that care and provide the financial support to these chimpanzees so that they could
remain at the only home that they know,” Haddix told a local Fox affiliate at the time.
haddix and PETA reached an agreement in 2020 that she could retain ownership
of the chimps, including Tonka.