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Chimp Attacks: SNL Stars Recount Terrifying Encounters
19 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Poehler was grabbed by an SNL chimp during a quick change.
- Bateman claims a chimp tried to bite his nose off.
- Both incidents occurred during live tapings at SNL.
Amy Poehler recently revealed a frightening encounter with a chimp named Mikey while working on Saturday Night Live. During a live taping, the primate grabbed Poehler's wrist during a quick change and refused to let go, causing her to scream due to its strength. This incident occurred during a sketch where Jason Bateman was the host.
Jason Bateman himself recounted a similarly disturbing experience with the same chimp during his 2020 hosting gig. He described how the chimp, after a live show, attempted to bite his entire nose off. Bateman later learned that chimps sometimes react aggressively to human faces, though he did share a moment of reconciliation with the animal afterward.
Both Poehler and Bateman expressed a strong dislike for working with animal actors due to the stress involved. The chimp, Mikey, had a history of unpredictable behavior at SNL's Studio 8H, with footage from Poehler's sketch showing Bateman leaning in for a kiss from the ape, only for it to latch onto his lips.
