17. Justin Bieber’s monkey

In March 2013, Justin Bieber, the globally recognized pop sensation, made headlines with an unlikely travel companion – his pet capuchin monkey, O.G. Mally. Despite multiple warnings from his crew and against better judgment, Bieber decided to bring his furry friend along on his tour to Germany. The young star had received O.G. Mally as an unexpected birthday gift and quickly formed a bond. However, the trip was far from smooth sailing. Upon arrival in Germany, customs officials seized O.G. Mally, who was promptly placed under quarantine.

In the aftermath of the confiscation, Bieber was given until May 2013 to provide appropriate documentation for the retrieval of his pet. Despite his assertions in a 2016 GQ interview that he had all the necessary paperwork, Bieber failed to produce the required documents in time. This resulted in an $8,000 fine levied by German officials to cover the costs of transferring the capuchin to a zoo. His initial plans were foiled, and the pop star’s recklessness left an indelible mark on both him and O.G. Mally.

Unfortunately, O.G. Mally’s story doesn’t end on a high note. Five years post-seizure, reports emerged that the capuchin monkey was struggling to adapt to life in the zoo. He had trouble integrating with other monkeys and was still trying to imitate human speech, an unfortunate side effect of being taken from his natural environment too early. Despite the rocky journey, Bieber seemed to have taken a lesson from the experience. He stated in his GQ interview that he would make lifestyle changes for any future pets, starting with not taking them on international tours.