Latest news with #AllAboutRabbitsRescue
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Women rescue rabbits abandoned after Anna Delvey photo shoot in New York park
Three women who stepped in to rescue rabbits allegedly abandoned after Anna Delvey's photo shoot are speaking out about the ordeal. According to PEOPLE, Terry Chao, Jennifer Babcock, and Jenna Goins worked together to track and capture three domestic rabbits that were found in Brooklyn's Prospect Park shortly after appearing in photos on Delvey's Instagram. The controversy began when hairstylist Christian Batty, who had helped procure the animals, admitted in a since-deleted social media post that he had abandoned them in the park. He called his actions 'wrong, cruel, and inexcusable,' taking full responsibility. Chao first spotted one of the rabbits through a neighborhood Facebook post, later realizing it was from Delvey's shoot. With the help of Goins, who had experience in catching abandoned rabbits, the women managed to rescue the animals over several days. The bunnies — later named Parker, Moon, and Joaquin — were confirmed to be domesticated and related. The women stressed that dumping domestic rabbits is a widespread issue, often peaking after Easter. 'You'll never see a wild lop-eared rabbit,' Babcock explained, noting signs that showed the animals were not wild. Goins added that the rabbits in Delvey's photos were handled improperly, warning of the risks posed by collars and unsafe positioning. Delvey has since addressed the incident on Instagram, stating she was unaware that the leashes were unsuitable and emphasizing she had no role in sourcing or returning the animals. She also shared proof of a $1,000 donation to All About Rabbits Rescue, pledging greater oversight in future collaborations. All three rabbits are now safe in foster care. 'The story may blow over,' Goins said, 'but if it teaches people that rabbits aren't toys or props, it will have been worth it.'
Cosmopolitan
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Anna Delvey Denies Abandoning Bunnies in Brooklyn
In today's animal news, Anna Delvey—also known as Anna Sorokin—is declaring that she has nothing to do with the bunnies from her photoshoot that were abandoned in NYC's Prospect Park. Confused? Allow me to explain. Earlier this month, Anna did a photoshoot with bunnies on the streets of NYC. She posed in front of a subway stop with two leashed rabbits at her feet, right in front of her electronic ankle monitor. Days later, a few bunnies were spotted abandoned in Prospect Park, and rescuers online quickly identified them as the same ones used in Anna's shoot. A total of three bunnies believed to have been part of the photoshoot have since been rescued from the area. It's unclear how, exactly, the rabbits got released in the park, though an assistant on the shoot named Christian Batty has taken responsibility. In a since deleted Facebook post, he wrote in part (as reported by People), 'I lied to you, Anna, and the rest of the team about the rabbits. The truth is, I did abandon them in the park. It was wrong, cruel, and inexcusable, and I take full responsibility for my actions.' Christian continued, saying he panicked after being left with the bunnies (which he assumed would be returned to their owners) and believed that there were rabbits in Prospect Park. 'At 19, with no experience caring for animals, no pet-friendly housing, and no knowledge of available resources, I felt overwhelmed and made the worst possible choice,' he explained. Anna has denied any involvement, claiming in her Instagram Story that Christian had obtained the rabbits through Facebook Marketplace and 'intended to release them into Prospect Park.' Anna continued, 'As talent, it's not my job to source or return animals, but as an animal lover, I can promise I will never work with them again without knowing exactly where they come from and how they're getting home.' Anna also shared text messages purported to be between herself and the original owner of the bunnies, who gave the animals to Christian for the shoot. In the texts, the owner confirms that they never agreed to take the bunnies back after the photoshoot was over. 'Christian Batty lied for days about returning the rabbits. Turns out his plan all along was to dump them,' Anna wrote. Anna further proclaimed her innocence in another Instagram Story, claiming that her GPS ankle monitor 'handily rules me out of the most absurd crimes the outraged rabbit mob is frothing over.' She also uploaded what appears to be a receipt for a $1,000 donation to All About Rabbits Rescue. What's more, Anna is claiming to have had no involvement in the concepts or logistics of the shoot, saying she was contacted by the photographer Jasper Egan Soloff. However, Jasper's lawyer, Gary Adelman, has pushed back against this narrative. Speaking to The New York Times, Gary insisted that 'this was not Jasper's photo shoot' and stated, 'Jasper had no knowledge or input as to how the bunnies were obtained or what happened to them after the photo shoot.' Once reports of bunnies abandoned in Prospect Park made the rounds, vegan influencer Terry Chao—who claims to have been approached by Christian prior to the shoot—recognized them and went to rescue the two bunnies with some friends. Per her Instagram, a third bunny was later rescued with help from Christian, and they all remain in her care. Despite Anna's insistence that she was not involved with the mishandling of the animals used in her photoshoot, she doesn't seem thrilled by their rescuers. After Terry shared an Instagram Story of herself doing interviews about the ordeal, Anna reposted it, calling Terry a 'self-righteous clown' and accusing her of 'using rabbits as props and riling up the masses to send me more death threats.' Terry does not appear to have responded, but she is currently accepting donations to help care for the bunnies.
