‘Jackass’ Steve-O is Actually Serious about Animal Activism

So, maybe Steve-O is for real about this animal rights stuff. When he became the latest celeb to get naked for PETA’s anti-fur campaign last fall, a lot of people scoffed – I mean, this is the dude that was on the Jackass spinoff ‘Wildboyz’. Goat rodeo, anyone? I, for one, didn’t know anything about Steve-O’s animal activism – I’ve sat through countless hours (my husband is a fan) watching him intentionally harm himself as part of the cast of Jackass, CKY and Wildboyz, so it’s hard to take him seriously. Um, he used Tobasco sauce as eyedrops, and that’s a very mild example.

I was surprised to read Ecorazzi’s write-up about Steve-O rocking a PETA anti-fur shirt at the Maxim Hot 100 Party in Hollywood, California last week:

Daredevil Steve-O arrived to the Maxim Hot 100 Party in Hollywood, California last week rocking a PETA Anti-Fur shirt. No stranger to activism, the Jackass star has participated in many campaigns for the animal rights organization. You can check out some of his work here.

Since ‘Wildboyz’ seemed to make it clear that Steve-O wasn’t too concerned about the welfare of animals, I did a bit of digging before reposting this news, and was again surprised to find this on his personal website, posted on April 5th 2008 after he went to rehab and decided to clean up his life:

I want to make this world a better place and have chosen to do so by living what I consider to be a good life. I wish to lead by example, which is why I no longer contribute to the suffering of animals. I will not eat or wear any parts of the bodies of dead animals (correction: I eat fish). I could make a list of the things I choose to do, but, rther than do that, I will just leave you with the following statement: I am hopeful that I will make you all proud.

Perhaps we should all take this as a lesson: being so incredibly goofy that you would get a huge tattoo of your own face on your back doesn’t necessarily make you a douchebag. Also, crack is whack. Here’s hoping Steve-O stays clean and continues the animal rights work.

Link [Ecorazzi] + [Steve-O]

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