Robin Williams’ daughter Zelda claps back at viral post of her father that claimed he had a ‘pet monkey’ – on 10th anniversary of his death

Robin Williams' daughter Zelda claps back at viral post of her father that claimed he had a 'pet monkey' - on 10th anniversary of his death

As a dedicated fan and admirer of Robin Williams, I find myself deeply moved by Zelda’s passionate defense of her father’s legacy and the animals he worked with during his illustrious career. It is heartening to see how she stands up against misinformation and disrespectful portrayals of her father, especially when it comes to his co-stars like Crystal, the monkey from Night at the Museum.


In simpler terms, Zelda Williams, Robin William’s daughter at the age of 35, shared thoughts regarding a widely-shared picture featuring her late father holding a monkey on his shoulder.

Originally posted on X, previously known as Twitter, the image asserted that it showed Robin with his pet monkey, a few days prior to his passing, in its accompanying caption.

Zelda felt irritated when the user mistakenly referred to the monkey, who was her co-star in A Night at the Museum, as their “pet”.

As someone who has dedicated my life to the care of animals, I must express my concern about the increasing trend of AI-generated content promoting the ownership of exotic pets such as monkeys. Having worked with a variety of species throughout my career, I can attest that these creatures are not suitable household pets and their welfare is often compromised when kept in captivity.

She continued: ‘That is his Night at the Museum costar, who now lives at one.’

Robin Williams' daughter Zelda claps back at viral post of her father that claimed he had a 'pet monkey' - on 10th anniversary of his death

In the series, a monkey named Crystal took on the role of Dexter, while Robin, who later passed away in 2014, had previously starred in it.

She additionally pointed out, explaining that the photograph genuinely depicts her father, yet, ‘It’s not necessarily the most recent one.’

The Oscar winner died by suicide on August 11, 2014 at the age of 63. 

Apart from Zelda, the deceased actor is also a father to two sons: Cody (age 31), born to his second spouse Marsha Garces, and Zak (age 40) who was born to his first wife Valerie Velardi.

To mark the tenth year since her father’s passing, Zelda cautioned her followers against posts that were inaccurate or based on insufficient research regarding her father.

On the anniversary of my beloved dad’s passing, it’s become increasingly evident that unverified or poorly researched posts tend to spread like wildfire. So, let’s just assume they’re all bunk (they often are). Shun the intrusive bots trying to capitalize on your clicks and instead, indulge in a little self-care. I, for one, am choosing to do something nice for myself rather than giving credence to dubious content.

Earlier, Zelda expressed her opinion about utilizing artificial intelligence to mimic stars’ voices and appearances without their agreement or consent, which was a topic discussed during the SAG/AFTRA strike last year.

She said her father would have been ‘fighting the good fight’ with the acting union.

Robin Williams' daughter Zelda claps back at viral post of her father that claimed he had a 'pet monkey' - on 10th anniversary of his death
Robin Williams' daughter Zelda claps back at viral post of her father that claimed he had a 'pet monkey' - on 10th anniversary of his death
Robin Williams' daughter Zelda claps back at viral post of her father that claimed he had a 'pet monkey' - on 10th anniversary of his death
Robin Williams' daughter Zelda claps back at viral post of her father that claimed he had a 'pet monkey' - on 10th anniversary of his death

In an Instagram Story, Zelda expressed that for numerous years, she has observed a significant number of individuals attempting to train AI models for the creation or recreation of actors who lack consent, such as Dad.

‘I’ve already heard AI used to get his “voice” to say whatever people want and while I find it personally disturbing, the ramifications go far beyond my own feelings,’ she wrote.

Actors who are still active should be given opportunities to develop characters through their decisions, lend their voices to animated roles, and invest their human energy and dedication towards enriching their performances.

At their finest, these replicas merely imitate great individuals, yet they can often resemble a nightmarish creation reminiscent of Victor Frankenstein’s monster, pieced together haphazardly from the most inferior aspects of this field, rather than embodying its true ideals.

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2024-08-11 23:03

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