Times Square billboard backing Pete Davidson's 'BDE' removed after 'bullying' calls from PETA

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A Times Square billboard supporting Pete Davidson in his battle with PETA was taken down less than 24 hours after it was put up, as per reports. Early on Wednesday morning, the Center for Organizational Research and Education launched a new billboard in the middle of New York City showing comedian Pete Davidson using the acronym "BDE" to represent "Buy a Dog Energy."

The billboard was in response to the animal rights organization's criticism of Davidson for purchasing a new puppy for his mother from a breeder at a store in the Big Apple rather than adopting a dog from a shelter. The billboard's message seemed to clearly profess support for the 'Saturday Night Live' star.

What irked PETA?

It all began in May when Davidson was photographed purchasing a 2-month-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel-poodle mix from Citipups, a pet shop in Manhattan, alongside Chase Sui Wonders. According to Washington Post, Davidson purchased the puppy for his mother after learning about it on the pet store's Instagram account. His mother's 2-year-old dog, who was purportedly a Cavapoo, had died just a few weeks earlier.

'It's tragic Pete didn't seek out a borough-born mutt'

PETA's Cruelty Investigations director, Daphna Nachminovitch, rushed to TMZ to voice the group's complaints. A feisty New Yorker with charm, charisma, and unusual good looks may have been Pete's ideal mate, Nachminovitch quipped. "It's tragic that Pete didn't seek out a borough-born mutt from a city animal shelter," Nachminovitch continued. "Since shelters in New York and across the country are overflowing with homeless animals, PETA urges Pete to show some big heart energy by adopting, not shopping, in the future."

The star replied to PETA's criticism by leaving an unhinged voicemail to the group in which he screamed 'f*** you, suck my d***' as he explained that he had to get a specific dog breed because he is 'severely allergic," as reported by DailyMail.

Who removed the billboard?

The now-removed billboard in Times Square in New York City offered some support to Pete Davidson. In response to Davidson's fury at PETA, the advocacy group PETA Kills Animals has defended the comedian's choice to buy a puppy rather than adopt one.

According to the anti-PETA organization, animal advocates are more likely to put cats and dogs down than to find them new homes. The billboard responded by making fun of Davidson's "big d**k energy" (BDE), which here means "buy dog energy," as per reports.

But by Thursday, the billboard was taken down. According to insiders at CORE, the owner of the billboard gave in to pressure from PETA reps after receiving a barrage of calls from the animal rights organization. According to spokesperson Will Coggin, "'PETA was bullying them, tying up their phone lines and preventing them from normal business operations." He asserted that their actions were "very disruptive to the business," and as a result, it was decided to remove it. However, a spokesperson for PETA informed that its fans "were furious about this billboard's attempt to distort PETA's lifesaving work."