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How "Tiger King" Led to "Chimp Crazy" on HBOMAX · Murder Files Unsealed

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Eric Good, the documentarian behind Tiger King, has recently released
• 0:05
  a gripping and controversial follow up titled Chimp Crazy on HBO.
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  This series explores the complicated relationship between exotic animal broker
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  Tonia Haddocks, who professes a deep affection for her retired
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  Hollywood chimp Tonker, claiming to love him more than her
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  own children, and the activist organization People for the Ethical
• 0:29
  Treatment of Animals Peter, which has been engaged in a
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  prolonged legal battle to relocate the primate to a certified sanctuary.
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  In the penultimate episode, aired on September one, viewers discovered
• 0:45
  that Haddocks, who had previously asserted that Tonker had passed
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  away and provided proof of his cremation, was actually concealing
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  her human ze in her basement in Missouri. On camera,
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  Good contemplates should we report her or should we keep
• 1:02
  pursuing the story? As the search for the chimp intensifies,
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  Haddocks exhibits increasing signs of distress. Actor Alan Cumming, an
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  animal rights advocate who appeared with Tonka in the nineteen
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  ninety seven family film Buddy Garner's global attention by matching
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  Peter's ten thousand dollar reward for information regarding Tonker's location.
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  Haddos expresses her fears, stating, they would literally send a
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  hit man after me. I swear to God by that
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  if they thought they could, and adds They're never going
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  to leave me alone. I'm screwed. How did Chimp crazy happen?
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  Towards the conclusion of the episode, she informs a key
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  member of the production team that Tonker is suffering from
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  congestive heart failure and that a veterinarian has scheduled an
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  urgent appointment for euthanasia. Shortly thereafter, Good is seen in
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  conversation with Peter's attorney, revealing her confession. The Hollywood Reporter
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  engaged in a discussion with Good, who, in addition to
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  his Emmy nominated work, is recognized as the founder of
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  the Turtle Conservancy. He elaborated on the intricate web of
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  complexity and complicity he has encountered in this new endeavor,
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  which is on track to become HBO's most viewed documentary
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  series in recent years. During the production of what ultimately
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  became Tiger King, I discovered a unique subculture of women
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  who care for primates, referring to themselves as monkey moms.
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  I am familiar with various niche communities, such as those
• 2:48
  dedicated to tropical fish, reptiles, and birds. However, the world
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  of monkey moms stood out as particularly peculiar and intriguing.
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  For these individuals, their primates are akin to children. Consequently,
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  I began to explore this community further. This journey eventually
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  led us to Tonia, although it required two years of investigation.
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  Haddocks's dispute with Peter has garnered significant attention both locally
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  and nationally, highlighted by a particularly critical investigation published in
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  Rolling Stone. Her actions carry repercussions, partly due to the
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  obligation of documentarians to report certain observations to Peter. Following
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  the premiere of Chimp, it is anticipated that she will
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  become a target of mockery and scorn. The series emphasizes
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  the lack of stringent regulations governing private ownership of chimpanzees. However,
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  one must question whether ridiculing vulnerable individuals is an effective
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  strategy to advocate for new legislation concerning chimpanzees, which appears
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  to be Goods objective. It is both revealing and ethically
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  questionable that good was unable to engage directly with individuals
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  like Haddocks, particularly after Tiger King brought a previously obscure
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  subculture into public view, transforming its members into mere subjects
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  of ridicule. In the documentary, Good mentions that he employed
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  a proxy director to communicate with Haddocks and the other
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  individuals involved. One could argue that this approach deceived them
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  into disclosing their personal experiences for the amusement of an audience.
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  While Haddocks may have been more forthcoming on camera than
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  many others in similar circumstances, one must question whose camera
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  she believed she was addressing. Classifying chimp as either good
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  or bad proves challenging, as it primarily elicits feelings of
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  discomfort and distress. It does possess a narrative structure and
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  pacing that encourages viewers to return for subsequent episodes, and
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  it is undeniably intriguing. However, the experience may not be justified.
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  The four part documentary series titled Chimp Crazy is set
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  to premiere at ten PM on Sunday on HBO, featuring
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  an abundance of chimpanzees and an array of chaotic moments.
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  The series is marked by elements of sadness and brutality,
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  while also offering poignant and philosophical reflections. Viewers are introduced
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  to the concept of monkey love, described as a unique
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  and transformative form of affection that surpasses the emotional connections
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  typically found between humans. Tonia Haddocks, a prominent figure in
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  the series, asserts, the bond is much deeper. It's just natural.
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  It's like your love for God. Can she receive an affirmation?
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  Unfortunately no. Haddocks, who likens herself to the Dolly Parton
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  of the Chimps,