'Cheap laughs at the expense of animal welfare': Ant McPartlin comes under fire from PETA after presenter 'risked causing a Shetland pony acute back pain' for I'm A Celebrity clip
I'm A Celebrity has come under fire from animal welfare charity PETA after after Ant McPartlin was seen filming the advert for the new series while sat on a small Shetland pony.
The presenter, 45, shared a behind-the-scenes clip of himself and Declan Donnelly on set after the official trailer for I'm A Celeb dropped on Friday.
In the footage he shared to Instagram, Ant is dressed as a knight and sat on the back of the horse as he joked it was doing 'a little dance' while pacing around.
Under fire: I'm A Celebrity has come under fire from fans after Ant McPartlin was seen filming the advert for the new series while sat on a small horse in a behind-the-scenes clip
Dec was also seen in the clip, like Ant dressed as a knight, seated on a much bigger white horse as it shuffled about with him on its back.
Ant joked: 'Haha it's doing a little dance for you,' before singing: 'Do a little dance, make a little love, get down tonight.'
New promo: Ant shared footage of him filming the advert for I'm A Celebrity's new series to the Instagram page he shares with Declan Donnelly on Sunday night
PETA’s Director Elisa Allen said in a statement to MailOnline: 'Is there anything I'm A Celebrity wouldn’t do in a desperate attempt to get cheap laughs at the expense of animals’ welfare?
'This stunt caused a Shetland pony to struggle and risk acute back pain and even lameness.'
Allen added: 'PETA urges the show’s producers to find more creative and humane ways of introducing its absurd antics and to leave animals in peace.'
While fans were excited to see the return of I'm A Celebrity to TV screens next month, the post - shared via Ant and Dec's Instagram page - was overshadowed by those also sharing their 'disappointment' over the use of the small pony in the advert.
New promo: Ant shared footage of him filming the advert for I'm A Celebrity's new series to the Instagram page he shares with Declan Donnelly on Sunday night
PETA’s Director Elisa Allen said in a statement to MailOnline: 'Is there anything I'm A Celebrity wouldn’t do in a desperate attempt to get cheap laughs at the expense of animals’ welfare?
'This stunt caused a Shetland pony to struggle and risk acute back pain and even lameness.'
Allen added: 'PETA urges the show’s producers to find more creative and humane ways of introducing its absurd antics and to leave animals in peace.'
While fans were excited to see the return of I'm A Celebrity to TV screens next month, the post - shared via Ant and Dec's Instagram page - was overshadowed by those also sharing their 'disappointment' over the use of the small pony in the advert.
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