A heartbreaking video has taken the internet by storm, showing a tiny baby monkey sitting helplessly on the ground, its tiny hands clasped together in a begging gesture that left many viewers in tears. But what followed shocked everyone: a controversial act by the well-known pair, CUTIS and Yáşżn Nhi, sparked a storm of outrage online.
The video opens with the baby monkey, known to followers as Lu, wandering near a rural home. Lu, who has grown popular thanks to a series of videos showing him being cared for by humans, appears distressed and confused. His soft eyes scan the crowd of onlookers, his thin arms repeatedly reaching out as if asking for helpâor perhaps, for forgiveness.
In the next frame, CUTIS, the farmer known for raising rescued animals, appears with Yáşżn Nhi, his young assistant. They walk past Lu without acknowledging him, laughing and talking loudly. CUTIS even jokingly says, âDonât fall for itâheâs just acting!â while Yáşżn Nhi giggles. They continue on their way, leaving the baby monkey behind.
This moment triggered a wave of criticism. Many viewers saw the monkeyâs behavior as a sign of emotional distress and abandonment, not manipulation. What seemed to be a harmless joke to some felt like cruelty to others.
“How could they ignore him like that? Heâs clearly scared and begging for attention,” one user commented on the video. Another wrote, âMonkeys canât fake emotions like humans. That little one is heartbroken!â
Within hours, the video spread across social media platforms in Vietnam and beyond. Hashtags like #JusticeForLu and #StopAnimalMockery began trending, with thousands of comments demanding answers.
Animal rights advocates also joined the discussion. Dr. LĂŞ Minh, a primatologist, explained on a talk show that baby monkeys form deep emotional bonds with their caregivers, especially when theyâve been raised in captivity. âWhat looks like âbeggingâ is actually a learned behavior from their experiences with humans,â he said. âWhen these bonds are broken suddenly, it can cause extreme emotional trauma.â
In response to the backlash, CUTIS posted a short statement. He claimed that the video was âmisunderstoodâ and that Lu was never in danger. âHe was just playing. We never meant to hurt him,â the post read. Yáşżn Nhi added a tearful apology video, stating, âI love Lu. I would never harm him.â
Still, many netizens werenât satisfied. They argued that even if harm wasnât intended, the emotional well-being of animals should be taken seriouslyâespecially when millions of people are watching. Others defended CUTIS and Yáşżn Nhi, saying the internet was overreacting to a brief moment.
In the end, this controversy has opened up a bigger conversation: how should humans treat animals in online content? While CUTIS and Yáşżn Nhi may have acted without thinking, the internet is now watching closely.
As for little Lu, recent photos show him happily eating bananas on CUTISâs farm againâbut that desperate image of him with hands together remains etched in many hearts.
