Joaquin Phoenix, lifelong vegan, saved a cow and her calf from a slaughterhouse
Almost immediately after his Oscars victory, Joaquin Phoenix gave a cow and her calf what they deserve.
The Joker star, who has been a vegan since the age of 3, during his Academy Award acceptance speech earlier this month railed against the fact that "we feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow, and when she gives birth, we steal her baby ... and then we take her milk that's intended for a calf and we put it in our coffee and our cereal."
But besides just using his platform at the Oscars to advocate for this issue, Phoenix was ready to take action literally the next day, when he visited a slaughterhouse in Pico Rivera, California, TMZ reports.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In a video, Phoenix is seen appearing deeply skeptical while talking to the president of the company that owns the slaughterhouse and ends up with the opportunity to rescue a cow and her calf, who are taken to a sanctuary. The actor ends up promising to send the slaughterhouse CEO photos of the cow and the calf in their new life, photos the public's certainly going to want a copy of after the heartwarming video.
Phoenix in a statement promised he'll continue to "fight for the liberation of all animals who suffer in these oppressive systems."
Throughout the 2020 awards season, Phoenix had been both advocating for issues he cares about in acceptance speeches but subsequently taking action as well. CNN notes he comforted pigs on their way to a slaughterhouse the day of his Screen Actors Guild Awards win, and just days after winning a Golden Globe, he joined Jane Fonda and got arrested at her climate change protests in Washington, D.C.
Phoenix said at the time, "I think sometimes we wonder what can we do in this fight against climate change, and there's something that you can do today, right now, and tomorrow, by making a choice about what you consume."Brendan Morrow
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
'Musk's reliance on China draws rising scrutiny'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Biba: the story of a 'legendary emporium'
The Week Recommends Brand's 60th anniversary is being marked with retrospective celebrating the 'iconic shop's cultural importance'
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
How the Russia-Ukraine conflict has spread to Africa
The Explainer Ukraine is attempting to strengthen its alliances on the continent to counter Russia's growing presence
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
South Korea passes law banning sale and production of dog meat
Speed Read Rare bipartisan support 'highlights changing attitudes' as young people shun centuries-old tradition
By The Week UK Published
-
Out of touch: Daryl Hall obtains restraining order against bandmate John Oates
Speed Read Lawsuit reveals unharmonious relationship between most commercially successful duo in pop history
By Jamie Timson, The Week UK Published