# Italian influencer primate possession controversy > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/italian-influencer-primate-possession-controversy > Updated: 2026-08-11T17:11:09.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2. Italian influencer Rita De Crescenzo has drawn intense scrutiny and condemnation following social media posts featuring a small primate, believed to be a green monkey, brought from Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Initial reports highlighted conflicting accounts from De Crescenzo regarding the animal’s origin, with her variously claiming she purchased the monkey or rescued it from a street box. She defended her possession of the animal, stating, “The monkey is mine and stays with me.” This sparked legal concerns regarding CITES regulations and potential wildlife trafficking, while health experts warned of zoonotic disease risks such as mpox and Ebola. As the situation progressed, animal welfare organizations, including the National Animal Protection Agency (ENPA), condemned the act as a “very serious form of mistreatment.” Experts noted the primate was likely separated from its mother prematurely for profit and was being provided inadequate nutrition. The incident has intensified debates regarding the exploitation of wildlife for social media content and the risks associated with using wild animals in tourism contexts. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-11: Influencer sparks wildlife debate after posting monkey videos in Egypt Influencer Rita De Crescenzo faces criticism from animal welfare groups after posting videos of a young monkey in Egypt, sparking debate over wildlife exploitation for social media content. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/influencer-sparks-wildlife-debate-after-posting-monkey-videos-in-egypt ### 2026-08-08: Rita De Crescenzo faces scrutiny over primate possession Influencer Rita De Crescenzo faces backlash and potential legal action after showing a primate from Egypt on social media, sparking health concerns and wildlife trafficking investigations. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/influencer-rita-de-crescenzo-faces-scrutiny-over-exotic-pet-posts --- Cite as: Italian influencer primate possession controversy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/italian-influencer-primate-possession-controversy