![Chimps]()
Well, that's quite the name to tag yourself with...
Last week, a new HBO documentary series released its first episode, and after the second episode dropped, the show got quite the following. Made by the same director responsible for Tiger King, Chimp Crazy primarily follows a woman named Tonia Haddix and her love for chimpanzees.
This tweet perfectly sums up how I have felt watching the series thus far.
https://twitter.com/plantainpoet/status/1830457955566637472
Without spoiling the whole plot, Haddix finds herself in a lawsuit with PETA after they deem her chimpanzee rescue facility ill-fit to house the exotic animals, and Haddix is not equipped to care for these primates. After the lawsuit also deemed the conditions unfit, they transported the animals to a sanctuary; however, one chimp she has a close bond with is missing on the day of the property's seizure.
"It's like your love for God. And I'd do anything to protect that primate, anything... I would give anything I have up, possession-wise, for that child. I would give my life for him, and that's exactly what I did, to be honest."
While the story is fascinating and details how the chimp trade started across the U.S. and how many of these chimps were used in Hollywood at one point, one of the phrases that made me choke when watching the episodes released thus far is when Haddix compared herself to Dolly Parton.
In the first episode, Haddix deems herself as the Dolly Parton of Chimps, and the first thought I had after hearing that statement was, "No."
https://twitter.com/lydiakauppi/status/1830799728759468149
(If you read the caption above the show's marketing image...yes, it's true.)
But after watching the first 10 minutes after her introduction to the show, she's not entirely wrong...minus the charitable giving part. Haddix resembles Parton when it comes to her wigs or larger-than-life blonde hair. That, combined with her questionable makeup at times and large lips, give off a "Backwoods Barbie" vibe, but even Parton's "trashy" appearance was always polished compared to this.
Not to mention, I doubt Dolly Parton would ever find herself in a cat-and-mouse game with authorities over an exotic animal.
Needless to say, that comparison, combined with the craziness found in the docuseries, Tonia Haddix is blowing up from Chimp Crazy. The internet was filled with comments regarding her comparison to the "Jolene" singer, and they did not disappoint.
https://twitter.com/dgreene__/status/1829436988375629930
https://twitter.com/lucasdand/status/1829736890649510370
https://twitter.com/NankDatThang/status/1827892674747040063
https://twitter.com/HoeAnnaKrupa/status/1830160585860005909
https://twitter.com/emilysyrja/status/1825956863797776758
https://twitter.com/acruuuz/status/1829351647614796190
This Jennifer Coolidge comparison is SPOT ON to me.
https://twitter.com/gibsonoma/status/1830974158140051693
https://twitter.com/beckdryz/status/1830964614869446676
If that doesn't have you sold to check out the "Dolly Parton Of Chimps'" story... I'm not sure what more it will take.
Fire up the trailer while you're here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXmJpfc3a7o
