It’s not clear if she was joking or not, but actress and comedian Natasha Leggero claimed to pretend she has epilepsy so that she could bring her pet into restaurants as a Service Dog on national TV Monday night.
Joking or not, Leggero harmed disabled people who use Service Dogs with her comments on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show on Monday. If she wasn’t joking, she admitted to committing something that is not only unethical, it’s a crime.
Actress and comedian Natasha Leggero on NBC’s Tonight Show with Jay Leno
We urge you to contact Leggero to let her know your feelings. If she is indeed faking epilepsy and having her pet pose as a Service Dog, she must deal with the legal and social consequences.
“Sometimes I pretend like I have epilepsy so I can get into restaurants [with my dog].” —Natasha Leggero”
Issuing an apology is a good first step, but after comments like hers on national TV we would suggest she go further and donate time or money to the Service Dog organization of her choice.
As you likely know, we’re based around one simple premise: to help reduce the number of people abusing the law by requiring our Registrants to understand that intentionally misrepresenting an animal as Service or Assistance Animal for any reason is not only unethical, it is also illegal and may be punishable by fines or imprisonment. Disabled individuals who use Service Dogs have worked hard to gain their privileges. Their excellent behavior and commitment to training have granted them the liberty to bring their Service Dogs into public places so that they may perform tasks or work that assist with their disabilities. And Natasha, misrepresenting an animal as a Service Dog isn’t funny, it’s illegal.
We urge you to contact Natasha Leggero and her agents to let her know your feelings.
Brillstein Entertainment Partners
Geoff Cheddy g.cheddy@bep-la.com
The Gersh Agency
Bernie Spektor BSpektor@gershla.com
TJ Markwalter (PA) tj@gershla.com
Email Natasha Leggero directly at natasha@natashaleggero.com or on Twitter @natashaleggero
Natasha Leggero is an actress and comedian who can be seen regularly on Chelsea Lately. She currently stars in Comedy Central’s animated series Ugly Americans and Nick Swardson’s Pretend Time. Natasha will be playing the role of Emma in NBC’s Free Agents this fall.