The summer disaster film Twisters follows storm chasers testing their storm-tracking system while fighting for their lives against multiple tornadoes. While cyclones are a big part of the movie, there will apparently be a rodeo scene that angered PETA. In fact, the animal rights organization protested at the L.A. premiere of Twisters because of the rodeo scene.
Glen Powell‘s character in Twisters starts off as a rodeo cowboy who becomes a storm chaser. According to PETA, the organization wasn’t happy about the use of live horses and other animals in the rodeo scene. They made claims that the use of electric prods, flanks, or bucking straps can provoke aggression among docile animals. As animals can suffer severe and sometimes fatal injuries from these shows, PETA felt CGI or existing stock footage should have been used in the movie instead.
PETA urged audiences to send a message to Universal Pictures and filmmakers to add a disclaimer to the end credits of Twisters exposing animal cruelty in rodeos and encourage audiences not to attend them. Here’s what PETA’s senior vice president, Lisa Lange, had to say about the issue:
“While tornado chasers voluntarily risk their lives, the terrified animals who are mercilessly bullied in rodeo arenas and forced to recreate distressing scenarios for movies have no choice. PETA is calling on Universal Pictures to at least give viewers of this inhumane film the facts, which are that animals endure grievous injuries and agonizing deaths just so humans can play cowboy.”
What happened at the L.A. premiere of Twisters?
According to Entertainment Weekly, a small group of PETA protesters were present outside the Regency Village Theatre. They were holding signs with slogans like “Calves’ Necks Are Twisted at Rodeos” and “The Rodeo Hurts and Kills Animals.”
Star Anthony Ramos joked that the start of the L.A. premiere of Twisters had “a wild intro.” At least one protester came into the theater undetected and yelled her objections while the cast was onstage. She yelled, “There’s no excuse for animal abuse. The film needs a disclaimer,” before the police tackled her to the ground and handcuffed her.
You have the chance to see Twisters with its theatrical release date on July 19th.
