The Double Dishonesty of Chimp Crazy

As a seasoned journalist with years of experience under my belt, I’ve seen my fair share of documentary productions that leave more questions than answers. However, the docuseries “Chimp Crazy” takes the cake for being one of the most intriguing and complex productions I’ve ever encountered.

In the third installment of the HBO documentary series “Chimp Crazy”, director Eric Goode grapples with a moral dilemma. Tonia Haddix, one of his main subjects, had secretly kept a chimpanzee named Tonka hidden in her basement for an entire year, deceiving people about its death. Even during a court hearing, she tearfully maintained that the ape was no longer alive. However, Goode has recently discovered that Haddix intends to put Tonka down due to stress. This leaves him questioning whether he should step in and take action.

Instead of “Do we turn her in?”, consider using “Should we report her to the authorities?” And instead of “Or do we continue following the story?”, you could say “Or should we keep tracking the developments?” This maintains the original meaning while making it more accessible and natural.

As journalists, our aim is to avoid actions that are questionable from a moral and ethical standpoint. We strive for outcomes that bring more positivity than negativity. Is there a higher benefit or advantage to be gained?

Eventually, Goode informs PETA about Haddix, providing a voicemail where she explains her intention to put Tonka down. However, it’s important to note that she later clarifies she never intended to harm the animal. In the final episode of Chimp Crazy, Tonka is saved by authorities and transferred to a PETA-managed sanctuary in Florida, where he now cohabits with other chimps. Haddix may face criminal charges and is expected to reimburse PETA approximately $225,000 for legal expenses.

The documentary “Chimp Crazy” appears to have served a positive purpose: It moved Tonka to a better living situation, penalized Haddix for her actions, and highlighted the risks of trying to domesticate animals that aren’t designed to coexist with humans. However, it achieved these goals by employing methods that, using Laufer’s words, are morally and ethically questionable. To initially gain access to Haddix, Goode and his team deceived her by pretending to be someone else. Goode, a well-known figure in the exotic animal world thanks to “Tiger King,” understands that Haddix and other crucial sources wouldn’t cooperate if they knew his identity, so he enlists a stand-in director: Dwayne Cunningham, a former circus clown who was previously convicted for illegally transporting exotic lizards into the U.S. Cunningham presented himself as the filmmaker to Haddix, concealed Goode’s involvement, and established trust with the Missouri nurse by portraying himself as an advocate for her cause.

This action blatantly violates journalistic principles, showing signs of both deception and hypocrisy. Chimp Crazy largely maintains a factual tone but frequently exposes Haddix’s falsehoods and her inability to comprehend that keeping Tonka confined is not beneficial for him. In contrast, Goode justifies his hiring of a secret director as a common documentary practice and the only feasible choice given his reputation. However, Chimp Crazy fails to thoroughly explore how Goode’s pursuit of what he wants on film mirrors Haddix’s efforts to hold onto Tonka. Ultimately, Chimp Crazy portrays various individuals – including Haddix, other chimp owners featured in the series, and the documentary maker – who are unwilling to acknowledge the extent to which they put their own desires ahead of doing what is morally right.

In Lane Brown’s recent article about Goode, it’s mentioned that prior to his filmmaking career, he built a successful business creating captivating nightclubs and eateries in Manhattan. Throughout his journey, he’s consistently shown a knack for the dramatic, which can sometimes benefit or hinder his projects. In ‘Tiger King’ and, to a slightly less extreme degree, ‘Chimp Crazy’, Goode seems to relish the chance to photograph his subjects in ways that exaggerate their peculiarities. For instance, the camera frequently focuses on Haddix during a spa session, particularly her swollen lips, making them appear even larger. After Tonka is removed from Haddix’s care, she’s asked about what could fill the chimp’s void in her life. Goode swiftly shifts to a scene of her consuming donuts and soda. The conclusion spends an excessive amount of time on footage of Haddix crying in her car while listening to a Jelly Roll song, seemingly inviting the audience to find humor in her sorrow.

In 2022, during the making of “Chimp Crazy”, Cheyenne Roundtree from Rolling Stone revealed to Haddix that Goode was actually the one directing the series. This came as a surprise to Haddix, who admitted she wouldn’t have consented to being filmed if she had known about it beforehand. In the final episode of “Chimp Crazy”, Cunningham confessed to Haddix that the production team had reported her to PETA and expressed his apologies. While he appeared remorseful, it seemed his regret was somewhat limited. He explained in the documentary, “Tonia always knew we were filming a documentary, and I always reminded her, ‘Don’t say anything you wouldn’t want the whole world to hear.’

Once the piece gets published, Cunningham informs Haddix that Goode is standing by and wishes to chat with her on-camera. The situation seems to catch Haddix off guard, as it appears the relevant details should have been disclosed to her earlier.

Admitting my role as the antagonist here,” Goode acknowledges to the camera before learning if they’ll speak with her, a conversation that seems crucial for the project given his recent revelation. “Yet, don’t we all prefer to view ourselves in a more favorable light?

“Why do you think we do that?” asks a voice from behind the camera.

As a movie enthusiast, I’d rephrase it as: “I tend to trust my personal perspective,” he admits, but the statement lingers unresolved in my mind, yearning for deeper understanding. However, before I could delve into its meaning, the film Chimp Crazy swiftly transitions to another scene, where Goode engages with Haddix, expressing his profound empathy towards her bond with Tonka. Yet that intriguing phrase – “I tend to trust my personal perspective” – continues to echo, inviting further contemplation and explanation.

When Goode claims he’s the villain, he’s referring to his covert act of exposing Haddix by blowing the whistle. In their discussion, he fails to bring up the initial deception that led to her inclusion in his documentary series, nor does he express remorse for it. Instead, he queries his source about why she’s speaking with him now. She replies, hoping the documentary will persuade PETA to grant her access to Tonka. Haddix remains under the belief that Goode is supporting her cause.

Throughout the doc, there’s a sense that there are things going on behind the scenes between Cunningham, Goode, and other high-level members of production that they’re withholding from viewers as well as Haddix. In that Rolling Stone article, for example, an unnamed source says members of the crew were “disturbed” by Tonka’s care, but also “‘uncomfortable’ with the ethics of Haddix being in the dark about who was behind the documentary.” The documentary never suitably addresses any of this, nor Goode’s trickery.

In the last episode, prior to their conversation with Haddix, Good interviews Roundtree regarding her article. She expresses her similar feelings towards Haddix’s affection for Tonka as Good himself does. Later, Roundtree recounts viewing images of Haddix in the small basement where Tonka was isolated for months. “I can’t help but wonder,” she says, “if she doesn’t notice what everyone else observes?

In the role of a filmmaker, it’s Goode’s responsibility to present a comprehensive portrayal of Haddix, revealing how her relationship with Tonka is essentially self-serving under the guise of altruism. His visual storytelling is potent; arguably, one of the most melancholic scenes in “Chimp Crazy” depicts Tonka, expressing deep solitude through his eyes as he lies in his cage, gazing at cell phone photos of other chimps while Haddix claims that he’s content. Although Goode’s handling of Haddix isn’t overtly malicious like his treatment of Tonka, it appears he justifies his actions in ways that aren’t significantly distinct. He seems oblivious to the perspectives of others. As a documentarian, his task is to persuade viewers that his version of reality is the truth and the only one they should accept. This task becomes challenging when you begin by admitting to your audience that you’re a liar.

2024-09-09 07:54

The Double Dishonesty of Chimp Crazy

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