PETA: We got Jimmy Kimmel to drop animal trainer Dave Salmoni from tonight's Peter Buttigieg-hosted show

ET Canada

Salmoni has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! 24 times since 2009, including an appearance in January. When Democratic presidential candidate Buttigieg was announced as tonight's guest host, Salmoni was listed as one of the guests along with Patrick Stewart. Salmoni has since been replaced by Tony Hale. PETA says it convinced Kimmel to drop Salmoni after the animal rights organization called for an end of “cruel wild-animal segments.” “Jimmy Kimmel did the right thing in closing the curtain on a notorious peddler of animal suffering,” said PETA's Lisa Lange in a statement. “Sensitive wild animals are not TV props, and PETA hopes Kimmel will adopt an official wild-animal ban in his studio.” Kimmel and ABC have yet to confirm PETA's story.