Meet Jennifer White, Animal Rights Messaging Maestro

For PETA UK’s senior media and communications manager, getting people to see who animals are is a marathon, not a sprint.

People dread going head to head with interviewers like Piers Morgan – the notoriously combative former host of Good Morning Britain. But PETA UK’s Jennifer White does this with aplomb. Not only does she rise above probably deliberately ignorant and outright rude comments and interruptions to share the animal rights message with millions of viewers, her convincing arguments and disarming personality also often win over even the staunchest opponents.

If I Called You a Pig, Piers, It’d Be a Compliment

Jennifer has given over 130 top interviews. But few have been more memorable than one of her very first, on Good Morning Britain.

Making the point that we shouldn’t call people animals as an insult, she explained, “If I came on this show and called Piers a pig, he’d probably think I meant that he was disgusting and repulsive.” Jennifer continued, “But no – pigs are hyper-intelligent animals, so calling someone a pig is a compliment.” Morgan’s cohost interjected, “She just called you a pig!”

That fiery debate went viral, and Morgan later posted on X that it was his favorite interview in four and a half years. Good Morning Britain has invited Jennifer back again and again to talk about animal rights, and she became such a favorite of the show that after one appearance, a producer hugged her and said how much they loved having her on.

Fighting Ignorance With Information

When interviewers try to trip her up, Jennifer always deftly pivots back to animal rights. While she was on GB News to discuss the cruelty of breeding dogs to have flat faces and other deformities, the host insinuated that she was saying that it would be better if humans with physical disabilities had never been born. Jennifer countered that no one is trying to breed disabled humans. “There is no such thing as responsible dog breeding,” she explained. “And the kennel club actively encourages inbreeding. It is ethically wrong.”

During a discussion about foxhunting, one interviewer, trying to deflect attention away from cruelty, suggested that animal advocates “object to the bright coats, the ceremony, the history.” Jennifer shot back, “I can assure you we don’t object to the coats.”

In another GB News exchange, the host guffawed, thinking she’d nailed her when Jennifer explained that speciesism is why humans think they’re superior to other species. “Are you taking the mickey?” the host asked sarcastically. “Are you telling me that the mouse under the fridge is as important as my children?” Not missing a beat, Jennifer responded, “I think that mouse deserves to be treated humanely. And comparing your children to specific animals isn’t the point. The point is that humans don’t have a right to exploit and mistreat animals.”

Going the Distance for Animal Rights

Jennifer is quick on her feet in more ways than one. Off-camera, she’s a member of the PETA Pack, an online club that raises funds for animal rights projects by participating in sports. She has run one half and two full marathons, raising over $70,000 (£56,000). She started as a casual jogger but soon took on bigger challenges. Her career with PETA UK progressed similarly: Starting as a digital marketing intern, she quickly moved up the ranks to the media team and then to leading the department. Now, training new staffers and seeing them strut their animal rights stuff on air is “hugely rewarding,” Jennifer says.

Smart and Steady Wins the Debate

After her first-ever contentious exchange on Good Morning Britain, a chorus of support erupted for Jennifer and PETA UK, with singer Alesha Dixon posting on X, “I thought you were kind, gracious & professional on GMB this morning. Shame nobody else was!”

In Jennifer’s latest interview with Piers Morgan on his new TV talk show, Uncensored, she explained why the King’s Guard must switch from cruelly obtained bearskin to faux fur for its caps, and Morgan agreed! He deadpanned, “I find myself in a very unusual position where I think you might have a point.”

“There have been countless times when a presenter or a guest I’m debating ends up agreeing with PETA’s position,” Jennifer says. “But every time I can talk about PETA’s work in front of millions of people, it’s a win for the animals’ perspective.”