The study was published in Science Vol. 319 (March 14 2008).
The survey itself actually used “neutral” pictures of apes but when questioned why people did not think chimpanzees were endangered (those who responded that way) most often cited their frequent appearances as actors in movies and televsion and advertisements, etc.
I realize that many people interpret these studies as attempts to censor what people see and how people feel…but this is not the point. The fact is that these images and the practices that lead to them have serious welfare and conservation implications that we should all be aware of. While I hope that the day is coming when these practices will not exist for these reasons, I think our role at this point is educating folks on the context of these images. Ultimately, the public will decide what is “acceptable” or not.