2 min read
Why is PETA giving an award to the new PepsiCo ad starring Megan Thee Stallion and Travis Kelce? The blockbuster commercial, which kicked off the 2024 NFL season, used only cutting-edge computer-generated imagery (CGI) instead of real tigers.
While the commercial may be set in the Roman Empire, Pepsi proved it’s not stuck in the past by opting to create realistic CGI tigers instead of dragging abused animals onto set.
PETA is also sending vegan chocolates to Kelce for his realistic animal-friendly performance.
Tech, Not Terror: Big Cats Suffer When Used for Entertainment
Tigers and other wild animals used for films, TV, and advertising are routinely separated from their mothers prematurely, denying them the maternal care that they need for normal development and resulting in extreme psychological distress. PETA investigations and law-enforcement probes into animal suppliers for the entertainment industry have revealed that animals were kept in deplorable conditions and abused in other ways. For instance, an animal trainer for the film Life of Pi was caught on video viciously whipping a tiger 20 times in a row during a training session.
When no longer deemed “useful,” many animals used for films or TV are dumped at seedy roadside zoos. Big cats, primates, and all other animals exploited for entertainment have complex needs that can never be met on sets or at training compounds—which is why responsible companies are choosing to use humane technology, like CGI.
How YOU Can Help
Many companies advertise on social media, so if it appears that any ad is using a real animal, everyone can help by sending the company a respectful message encouraging it to remove the ad and to only use CGI and other humane technology in the future. The same goes for movies or TV shows: If you see a real animal being used, comment on the studio’s social media pages to let it know why it’s not OK to exploit animals for entertainment. And if you’re a cast or crew member working on a production and witness animal abuse or neglect on set, please contact PETA’s whistleblower hotline.
