Tonia Haddix, the central figure of Max’s new docuseries Chimp Crazy, has expressed strong discontent with how her story was portrayed. In an interview with Australia’s “Carrie and Tommy Show” on August 29, Haddix described the documentary as “cheeky,” “scripted,” and “definitely not accurate.”
The docuseries, which debuted earlier this week, depicts Haddix as the “Dolly Parton of chimps,” highlighting her ownership of several chimpanzees, including Tonka, who starred in films like Brendan Fraser’s George of the Jungle and Alan Cumming’s Buddy. Haddix is shown in the series sharing her deep connection with Tonka, but she feels the series misrepresents her relationship with the animal.
Scottish actor Alan Cumming, who appeared in the documentary, discussed the complex emotions people experience when interacting with wild animals, suggesting that love can cloud judgment. Haddix’s time with Tonka, however, became contentious when PETA intervened, filing a lawsuit against the Missouri Primate Foundation, where Haddix housed her chimps. The lawsuit alleged poor conditions at the facility, and Haddix was implicated for her role in the situation.
In 2020, Haddix reached a settlement with PETA, agreeing to improve the facility conditions to keep her chimps, including Tonka. Failing to meet these conditions led to a judge holding her in contempt of court and ordering the removal of all her chimps. Haddix was later found to have lied about Tonka’s death, which led to a $225,000 penalty and the transfer of her chimps to the Center for Great Apes and eventually the Save the Chimp sanctuary.
Haddix accused the Chimp Crazy documentarians of fabricating drama, including an anonymous tip that led to a raid by U.S. Marshals discovering Tonka alive in her basement. “They wanted a magnificent ending to their story,” Haddix alleged, claiming the documentary was driven by financial motives.
Now residing in Sunrise Beach, Missouri, Haddix works as an exotic animal broker and lives with her husband Jerry Aswegan, who runs a mobile petting zoo. She has two adult children, Justin and Erica, who were also featured in the documentary. Justin remarked on Haddix’s intense passion for the chimps, comparing it to her feelings for her own children.
Reflecting on her past actions, Haddix admitted to having regrets. She also denied a chimp attack depicted in the documentary, insisting it was staged. Chimp Crazy is currently streaming on Max.
