Salman Khan, already under the shadow of past controversies such as the blackbuck poaching case, finds himself in the middle of a fresh dispute. This time, it revolves around a donkey featured in the 18th season of the popular reality show Bigg Boss, which he hosts.
The new season of Bigg Boss began recently, and right from the start, it faced a backlash—surrounding none other than a donkey. The Hindustan Times reported the unusual controversy that sparked public debate.
On the first day of the season, a donkey entered the Bigg Boss house, becoming a part of the show as the 19th member, alongside the human contestants. A specific area was allocated for the animal’s stay, and the other contestants were even seen interacting with the donkey. However, this move did not sit well with animal rights organizations.
PETA India (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) immediately raised concerns about the donkey’s inclusion in the show. The organization sent a formal letter to Salman Khan, urging the actor to arrange for the immediate release of the animal. Along with PETA, another prominent NGO, People for Animals, also condemned the show’s creators for using the donkey as a form of entertainment. The backlash gained further momentum when Maneka Gandhi, a well-known animal rights activist, stepped in, advocating for the donkey’s release.
In response to the pressure from these organizations and activists, the donkey was eventually released. The news of its release was later shared by volunteer organizations on social media, with Maneka Gandhi being thanked for her involvement in the matter.
The 18th season of Bigg Boss includes several well-known contestants such as Shilpa Shirodkar, Shehzada Dhami, Arfin Khan, Shrutika Arjun Raj, Vivian Decena, Tajinder Bagga, Sara Arfin Khan, Chahat Pandey, Hema Sharma, Isha Singh, Rajat Dalal, and Alice Kaushik.
