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[Carrie McLaren <carrie AT stayfreemagazine.org>]

Wife tells pop star: 'It's the monkey or me'
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_864255.html

Story filed: 13:18 Monday 9th February 2004

A German pop star is trying to salvage his marriage after his wife 
left him when he moved a monkey into their marital home.

Werner Boehm was introduced to the 10-year-old female baboon while 
filming a music video.

He said: "It was love at first sight. The monkey is extremely musical 
and can even play the piano. We're on the same wavelength."

But his 31-year-old wife Susanne was not amused and moved out after 
Boehm allowed the pet to share his bed and dismissed the animal's 
demolishing of the furniture as "harmless fun".

She said: "I gave him the choice: The monkey or me. He chose the 
monkey. It's incredibly painful to know that some baboon is more 
important to him than I am."

Boehm, 62, says he wants his wife back - but on condition she accepts 
the monkey.

He said: "Susanne is welcome to stay. But only if she accepts the monkey."

But the relationship may be short-lived, as animal protection 
officials want to remove the monkey which they say will become lonely 
without contact with other baboons.

Wolfgang Poggendorf, head of the Hamburg animal protection agency 
said: "We have made a complaint to police, and they will take the 
animal away."

Boehm's mix of traditional folk and modern pop has seen a resurgence 
in popularity since he returned from filming the German version of 
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here.

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