A celebrity cockatoo named Chris is causing drama for a New York family. The bird, owned by Alison Minton, has starred on “Saturday Night Live” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” while also gaining nearly 50,000 TikTok followers with videos showcasing tricks like spinning straws and dancing.
Minton currently cares for her 83-year-old mother Barbara in Katonah, New York. Her 88-year-old aunt, who lives elsewhere in Westchester County, hasn’t seen her sister for years and refuses to acknowledge Barbara’s dementia diagnosis. This family tension has now entangled Chris, a 20-year-old cockatoo.
In October, Minton received an anonymous voicemail that she believes came from her aunt, threatening: “My sister better suddenly appear or something near and dear to you may disappear.” Minton filed a police report on February 19, but authorities found no evidence of criminal activity. She claims police dismissed her concerns, saying they treated the situation as “big deal, it’s just a bird.”
Minton expressed deep concern: “He’s my non-human child. I’ve had him for 20 years… it’s horrible to have someone threatening your pet.” She drew parallels to the recent attack on Lady Gaga’s dog walker, fearing similar danger.
The aunt denied making threats, calling the accusations “absurd” and criticizing Chris: “He bites my sister… he came here once and bit my granddaughter on the cheek.” She added, “If she has enough time to play with a bird, she can find a full-time job.”
Since his “SNL” debut with Daniel Craig in March 2020, Chris (named after his Christmas hatching) has become an in-demand performer, earning over $1,000 per appearance. Minton emphasized his professional reputation: “He’s been on sets for 19 years without incident.” Bedford Police confirmed investigating Minton’s report but declined to discuss family details publicly.