People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) issued a call on Tuesday for cruelty-to-animals charges to be filed against former Black Ink Crew star Ceaser Emanuel.
In a statement on its website, the animal rights organization said Emanuel must “be held accountable” for the viral video that shows him striking his dog with a folding chair.
“Animal abusers are often repeat offenders,” said PETA Senior Vice President of Communications Lisa Lange. “And this dangerous person must be held accountable and barred from owning any animal.”
Related Story: ‘Black Ink Crew’ Star Ceaser Emanuel Says Dog Abuse Video Was Taken Out of Context
Emanuel was fired from VH1’s Black Ink Crew on June 23 after the video surfaced online.
“We have made the decision to cut ties with Ceaser Emanuel from Black Ink Crew New York,” VH1 said in a statement. “Since next season was close to finishing production, this decision will not impact the upcoming season.”
But Emanuel says no one bothered to tell him he was off the show, and he learned about his firing from media reports.
“I found out they fired me on Friday through TMZ,” he said during a Monday interview with the “OnThaRadar” podcast.
“When I found out, everybody else found out. I was, like, ‘huh?’ Bro, they fired me on my day off… no one could have called me and talked to me?” Emanuel said.
He also noted that his Black Ink brand will continue, he just won’t be on the show.
Last week Emanuel did an interview with TMZ and confirmed it was him in the video. But he insisted the footage was taken out of context because he was trying to break up a fight between his dogs.
During his podcast interview Emanuel explained the video was recorded on a Ring camera at his home and said it was leaked by an ex-girlfriend who had been “dangling” the video over his head and threatening to release it.
Black Ink Crew focuses on Emanuel’s Harlem-based Black Ink tattoo shop and its eclectic staff. The series is produced by VH1 Productions and MTV Entertainment Studios. The show’s success led to spinoffs set in Chicago and Compton.
After the animal abuse incident, Emanuel said he gave one of his dogs away and the other one is getting obedience training.
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