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By Graham Smith
Controversial: Animal rights campaigners criticised U.S. car manufacturer Dodge for dressing up a monkey as daredevil Evil Kenevil for a TV commercialA U.S. car manufacturer has come under fire for dressing up a monkey as daredevil Evel Knievel for a television advert.
Animal rights campaigners hit out at Dodge after the commercial aired on U.S. TV earlier this month.
But activists couldn't have been prepared for how the company responded to their complaints.
Instead of withdrawing the ad, or sticking to their guns and refusing to pull it, Dodge simply digitally removed the monkey from the picture.
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Comeback: The firm humorously responded to animal lovers's complaints by digitally removing the primate from the picture 
The chimp was dressed like the U.S. motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel, picturedPeople For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals (PETA) were left aghast by the ad, which showed a monkey in an Evel Knievel-style jumpsuit pressing a detonator to celebrate a sales event, and called for it to be taken off the air.
But Dodge responded by simply erasing the monkey from the picture.
The modified ad now shows a seemingly empty suit walking over and pushing down the plunger.
The company also altered the voice-over, provided by Dexter actor Michael C Hall.
In the original advert, narrator Hall wonders what could be more amazing than Dodge's 'Tent Event', then adds: 'Oh wait, there's a monkey. I stand corrected.'
But in the new version, he deadpans: 'Oh wait, there's an invisible monkey. Unbelievable.'
As it was: Dodge claimed the company had no intention of upsetting animal lovers and at no point was the monkey mistreated
As it is: People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals is pleased with Dodge's humorous turnaround
Dexter, provides the voice-over for the adA spokeswoman for Dodge claimed the company had no intention of upsetting animal lovers and at no point was the monkey mistreated.
'The ad was an innocent act only trying to be humorous,' Kristin Starnes told the Los Angeles Times.
'In no way did the brand intend to promote any questionable practices. With the planned modification, we are simply taking some sound advice and altering direction in respect of PETA's initiatives.'
And PETA is pleased with Dodge's humorous turnaround, praising the car manufacturer for taking its concerns seriously.
Spokeswoman Julia Gallucci said: 'PETA applauds Dodge's decision to distance itself from cruelty to apes who are used and abused in entertainment.
'We at PETA have enjoyed Dodge's recent incarnation of the ad and are thrilled that Dodge has pledged never again to use great apes in its advertisements.'
In the UK chimps regularly appeared on TV dressed as humans in the adverts for PG TIps. The antics and adventures of the Tipps family disappeared from screens in the late 1990s.
In the UK chimps regularly appeared on TV dressed as humans in the adverts for PG TIps. This one from 1989 shows a financial expert in the City about to be upstaged by the tea ladyWatch the original advertisement here:
Now see the new version, with the monkey edited out, here:
source: dailymail
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