Wife tells pop star: 'It's the monkey or me'

Berlin - 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. -- Ananova News

Brudirect.com News