Cal Gaunt
Netflix star Jenna Ortega says she used to perform ‘autopsies’ on ‘little animals.’
Jenna Ortega’s career has always leaned into characters that are a bit offbeat, from her breakout role in Jane the Virgin to her chilling performances in The Babysitter: Killer Queen and Scream.
However, her portrayal of the morbidly quirky Wednesday Addams in Netflix’s Wednesday took her career to new heights.
But a bizarre confession while promoting her breakout series sounds like something out of a real-life scary movie.
It’s not hard to see the parallels between Ortega’s personal history and her ability to fully embody characters who possess an unusual blend of innocence and darkness.
After discovering the news, fans have had a rather divided reaction to Ortega’s childhood hobby.
One concerned fan wrote on Twitter: “Jenna Ortega used to do autopsies on animals? Girl? Are you okay?”
Another said: “Jenna Ortega talking about the ‘autopsies’ she did on animals she found is so gross and disturbing. It’s not quirky and different, it’s awful and concerning.”
A third wrote: “When I photograph dead butterflies, I’m weird. But when Jenna Ortega talks about how she did autopsies on lizards as a child she’s a creepy queen. I see how it is.”
“We all know most psychopaths started out with animal autopsies when they were younger,” said another. “ENOUGH MISS ORTEGA.”
Some fans defended her, though, with one fan writing: “I’ll defend Jenna Ortega, even when she’s weird because y’all are actually doing too much by comparing her to Jeffrey Dahmer… gross!”
Ortega has previously admitted she’s often drawn to the ‘spookier’ things in life.
She told The Face: “I love things that are a bit off-putting, things when the closer you look, really aren’t that pretty. I love things that are disturbing.”
When asked why she prefers working on series and films with darker scripts, Ortega admitted that it just feels ‘natural’ to do so.
“I think we find each other,” she said. “There’s some invisible string that’s connected to serial killers, monster creatures, and myself. No matter where I go.”
She added: “I feel like it’s something that’s always been attractive to me since I was younger, something I was always into.”
“I love things that are a bit off-putting, things when, the closer you look, really aren’t that pretty. I love things that are disturbing,” Ortega added.
“Horror films are what got me out of being a scaredy cat. It’s typically the other way around, but I fell in love with the craft, the passion that goes behind it.”
But these admissions pale in comparison to Ortega’s latest creepy confession.
Ortega also told Wired that she ‘used to perform autopsies on little animals’ when she was younger.
While she didn’t go into detail, she did confirm that the animals she used were already dead.
She clarified: “Like, little lizards that I found that were dead in my backyard.”
Animal cruelty in childhood has been linked to potentially violent behavior in adulthood, but the relationship is complex and not deterministic.
The MacDonald Triad, which included animal abuse as a predictor of future violence, has been largely discredited, however, animal cruelty remains a concerning behavior that may indicate underlying issues.
Per Discover Magazine, studies have shown correlations between childhood animal abuse and later aggressive or violent acts, including among some serial killers and violent offenders.
This behavior can be associated with antisocial personality traits, lack of empathy, and other psychological issues.
Causes of animal cruelty in children may include being victims of abuse themselves, poor coping skills, or genetic predispositions to callous-unemotional traits.
Early intervention, particularly through parent training programs, has shown promise in addressing these behaviors and improving outcomes.
While childhood animal abuse is a serious concern warranting attention, it doesn’t guarantee future violent behavior.
It’s also crucial to remember that Ortega doesn’t seem to have hurt any living creatures, and merely had an interested in their already dead corpses.
Either way, it sounds as though Ortega’s casting as the sadistic Wednesday Addams is something of a match made in heaven.
Related Article: Jenna Ortega, 21, Finally Addresses Rumour She’s Dating Johnny Depp, 61
Related Article: Netflix Confirms Jenna Ortega Is Not Returning To Hit Series As She’s Killed Off In First Trailer
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