Instead of extending his celebration for his SAG Award win at a Netflix party, the 'Joker' star heads to a slaughterhouse in Vernon, California to protest against animal cruelty.
- Jan 21, 2020
AceShowbiz - Not even a Best Actor kudo could entice Joaquin Phoenix away from his work as animal rights advocate. The "Joker" star took home his first Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role in a Motion Picture trophy at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, January 19, but he chose to join a vigil for pigs instead of celebrating with other A-listers.
The 45-year-old actor briefly attended People magazine's official after party before skipping another thrown by Netflix at Sunset Tower. He, instead, went to slaughterhouse Farmer John Cloughtery Packing Co. in Vernon, California, where he joined other activists in providing water and support for pigs heading for the butchery.
Still rocking the Stella McCartney tuxedo he worn for the prizegiving event, the longtime vegan actor voiced his protest against animal cruelty in an interview with Jane Unchained founder Jane Velez-Mitchell. "Most people don't really know of the torture and murder in the meat and dairy industry. I've seen it for what it is, so I have to be here," he said.
"We have moral obligations to talk about it and expose it for what it really is," the two-time Golden Globes winner continued. "We are so indoctrinated with these happy images of animals on farms, on the covers of meat containers, at restaurants and it's a lie. I think people need to know the truth and we have an obligation to do that. Those of us that have seen it for what it really is, we have an obligation to expose it, so I have to be here."
This was not the first time Rooney Mara's fiance attended vigils organized by Los Angeles Animal Save. Founder Amy Jean Davis claimed, "Joaquin's regular attendance at our vigils in L.A. has inspired activists both locally and globally. We are so grateful for his voice. All over the world, activists are bearing witness to animals bound for slaughter and waking up the world to their plight."
Phoenix has often used his platform to do animal rights advocacy. When accepting the Best Actor award at 2020 Golden Globes, the younger brother of River Phoenix thanked the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for serving a vegan meal. He noted that the "recognizing and acknowledging the link between animal agriculture and climate change" act "really sends a powerful message."
