A MARVEL star has been slammed after he claimed the fear of pitbulls is “dog racism”.
Actor Jon Bernthal, 49, who stars in the new Spider-Man movie, defended the breed of dog who are considered dangerous and are even banned here in the UK.
Marvel star Jon Bernthal has been slammed for his comments about pitbulls Credit: Youtube/The Howard Stern Show
The actor said that the fear of pitbulls is ‘dog racism’ Credit: Getty
Fans of the star, who also appears in the summer blockbuster The Odyssey, didn’t hold back after he was asked about pitbulls on The Howard Stern Show.
The US star is known for his love of this type of dog, having owned them throughout his life.
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The topic of pitbulls then came up during the interview, with host Howard asking Jon about his own pets.
“My dogs are the greatest; they’re unbelievably well trained.,” the actor beamed.
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Jon is pictured with one of the dogs that he owns Credit: Youtube/The Howard Stern Show
The actor appears in the new Spider-Man film Credit: PA
Howard then wanted to know more, and asked if it was a “myth” that they are “dangerous” animals.
This aggravated Jon, who said: “People have got to stop that.”
Continuing his rant, the actor fumed: “It’s just racism. It’s just dog racism.
“To be afraid of a breed of dog is completely ridiculous.
“It’s like being afraid of somebody for their race or their sexual orientation. It’s completely ridiculous.”
The star then claimed: “Look, if a pitbull bites you, it’s going to suck. But they’re no more likely to bite you than a Chihuahua or another breed!”
However, his comments didn’t go down well with fans, and they took to Reddit to discuss.
One fumed: “This dude trying to diminish racism by comparing it to dog breeds is certainly a choice!”
Another vented: “That is not how racism works. Also, it is not about the bite, it’s about the power behind the bite.
“It is nearly impossible for the average person to get a pitbull to release them from their jaws, but a chihuahua is easily removed.”
This one added: “Except a chihuahua doesn’t have the size nor the bite force/strength a pitbull has and is unlikely to kill you. Lol wtf kind of comparison is that!”
Pitbulls are not illegal in the US, but they are banned from being owned or breed in Britain under the Dangerous Dog Act.
