‘The White Lotus’ Creator Urges Thai Government To End Monkey Exploitation

Mike White, creator of 'The White Lotus', has urged the Thai government to end the exploitation of monkeys in the country for picking coconuts. Following an investigation by PETA Asia showing the abuse and forced labor of baby monkeys in coconut picking "schools," White wrote a letter to the Prime Minister calling for an end to this cruel practice. Thailand is the tenth biggest coconut-producing country in the world and has a long history of using monkeys to pick coconuts due to their efficiency.

White, who has been a vegan since 2005, has been a vocal advocate for animal rights. He emphasized his concern for the well-being of monkeys in Thailand and urged the government to transition to more humane harvesting methods. PETA has called on consumers to only buy coconut products from countries that do not use monkey labor, such as India, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. White's advocacy for animals extends to his personal choices, as shown by his vegan lifestyle and his portrayal of animal rights issues in his work.