Our hearts melted when the “IKEA Monkey,” later identified as Darwin, was spotted strutting through the aisles of an IKEA in Toronto this weekend — but now, our hearts are breaking. The trendsetter has been placed in the custody of Toronto Animal Services, and officials are working tirelessly to find a more suitable home for the overnight celebrity.

The Toronto Zoo will not be taking the rhesus macaque — that particular species is apparently banned in Toronto due to the diseases it often carries, and not just because it steals attention from hard-working Canadian celebrities — but it’s working with TAS to find a permanent home for Darwin at an animal sanctuary.

Darwin’s owners were fined $240, according to the Toronto Star, as they had been keeping Montreal-born Darwin as a pet for more than five months in Toronto.

He’s “not very happy right now,” according to Mary Lou Leiher, the program manager for partnerships and marketing at TAS. “He’s a baby, so he’s a little bit sensitive.”

Darwin has also been eating peanuts and grapes, which may be common, but is also adorable nonetheless.

Everyone at HollywoodLife.com wishes the best for Darwin; and no matter where he eventually settles, we only hope he’s allowed to bring along the extravagant, floor-length shearling coat that made him this generation’s Coco Chanel.

— Andy Swift

Follow @AndySwift

More on Fashion-Icon Darwin, the IKEA Monkey:

1. Spotted: Small, Well-Dressed Monkey Shopping At IKEA In Toronto

It would be truly ignorant to assume humans are the only species eager to purchase inexpensive, ready-to-assemble furniture direct from Sweden. So in an apparent attempt to set us all straight, a very small monkey was spotted in a Toronto IKEA on Dec. 9, wearing the most extravagant winter coat ever sewn.

“It seemed nervous,” says Bronwyn Page, a producer for Canada’s CBC News, who had the incredible fortune of beholding the glorious sight with her own eyes. “It was coming to anyone. It was doing some monkey screaming.”

Clearly, the little guy was just trying to get the attention of a sales associate. As for the nervousness, if you’ve ever stepped foot in an IKEA, I’m sure you can relate. Few experiences in this life, or any other, are more stressful.

As it turns out, the monkey’s owners — as if anyone could really “own” this independent, free-spirited creature — were shopping in the IKEA, and the monkey escaped from its crate in their car.

Like most celebrities caught in the heat of a public scandal, I can only assume the monkey would like us to respect its privacy at this difficult time.

But I make no promises.

Do you have any interesting theories about IKEA Monkey? Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? Please drop a comment below so we can discuss this more in depth.

IKEA Monkey IN CUSTODY — Darwin Taken By Toronto Animal Services

— Andy Swift

Follow @AndySwift

Getty Images (2)

Kathy Griffin tells the world she’d be a lesbian if she could date Tiger’s wife!

Why did comedian Kathy Griffin decide to give up men? It isn’t because Elin Nordegren is that hot (although she is). No, the flame-haired funny girl is all about the Benjamins, baby.

“She is going to be rolling in it,” the self-proclaimed D-lister told George Lopez on Dec. 7, referencing Elin’s alleged $300 million prenuptial agreement.

Let’s be honest … Kathy always says what we’re thinking, but too self-respecting to say! She told George the novelty of Elin’s name (pronounced Eeh-lihn), pleases her greatly because “it sounds like an IKEA end table.”

Watch the vids below yourself and try telling us you didn’t LOL like we did!

Get More on the Tiger Woods scandal:

1. Father Of Rachel Uchitel’s Late Fiancé: She’s Not The Same Person Anymore!
2. Has Tiger Treated All His “Other Women” Badly?
3. Elin Nordegren — Don’t Sell Your Soul For $80 million dollars!