A clip from a 2017 interview with Jon Bernthal is making the rounds online, bringing renewed attention to the actor’s passionate defense of pit bulls. In the resurfaced footage, the “Punisher” star argues that fear of the breed is rooted in unfair stereotypes, even going so far as to describe it as “dog racism.” His past comments have reignited online discussion about the stigma surrounding the dog breed.
On August 1, “The Howard Stern Show” reuploaded a 2017 interview featuring actor Jon Bernthal, in which he defended pit bulls. The resurfaced clip quickly gained traction, with numerous media outlets and social media accounts highlighting his remarks, turning them into a trending topic online.
The conversation turned to pit bulls when Howard Stern asked the actor about a 2009 incident in Venice Beach. Bernthal was arrested following an altercation with a drunk individual who attempted to grab his pit bull. The actor punched the man, who ended up unconscious after hitting his head on the ground.
Stern asked why his pit bull didn’t attack, to which Bernthal answered, “My dogs are the greatest, and they’re unbelievably well trained.” He further added that the stereotype against pit bulls being aggressive is just “dog racism.”
“To be afraid of a breed of dog is completely ridiculous. It’s like being afraid of somebody for their race or their sexual orientation,” Bernthal told Stern.
The Actor Placed The Responsibility On Dog Owners
Bernthal admitted that it would “suck” to be bitten by a pit bull. However, he claimed that “they’re no more likely to bite you than a chihuahua or any other breed of dog.”
Moreover, the actor believes that a dog’s behavior depends largely on its owner and how it is raised and trained, regardless of the breed. “I think that a lot of knuckleheads, unfortunately, are attached to that breed of dog,” he added.
The resurfaced clip sparked an online debate. While many agreed with his view, others argued that genetics also play a role. One said mixed breeds are responsible for many attacks, but when it comes to specific breeds, “pit bulls are by far the most dangerous.” One person commented, “If you meet a pit bull who’s an a-shole it’s because an a-shole human taught them to be an a-shole.”
Jon Bernthal Is An Advocate For Pit Bulls
Bernthal has long been vocal about his love of pit bulls. In 2014, he shared that he often traveled by car to work instead of taking a plane, as he wanted to bring his pit bulls, Boss and Venice, with him.
“They’re beautiful. They’re sweethearts,” the actor said, adding that apart from them being his best friends, he wanted to change the public’s perception about the breed. “It’s pretty sick and twisted how people feel about them a lot of the time, and my dogs are total sweethearts,” he told Live Science.
In 2015, Bernthal, who starred in “The Walking Dead” for two seasons in 2010 to 2012, said there wasn’t a day when his dogs were not on set with him, and they were also his companions to meetings and auditions. “Our dogs are part of our family,” he said, per CBS News.
The Actor’s Father Served As Chair For The Humane Society
Bernthal isn’t the only one in his family advocating for pit bulls. His father, Eric, served as chair of the board of directors for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) until 2019.
In 2012, the Maryland Court of Appeals declared pit bulls and pit bull mixes “inherently dangerous” breeds. Through his leadership, Eric and the HSUS fought the decision and called out Maryland lawmakers for issuing a “death warrant” for thousands of dogs in shelters. The court ruling was overturned, and a new breed-neutral bill was enacted.
Bernthal credited his father for inspiring his passion for dogs, especially pit bulls, saying Eric “loved dogs to an insane level.”
Fatal Dog Attack Statistics
The role of breed in dog attacks remains a divisive issue, with pit bulls and Rottweilers at the center of discussion.
In 2025, there were 84 reported fatal dog attacks in the U.S. and Canada, with 64 involving dogs identified as pit bulls. Despite the statistics, several studies have shown that a dog’s breed does not correlate to its aggression.
Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) have previously warned against breed-specific fatality statistics, as they often rely on visual identification, which may be inaccurate.
