Read the Room, Vanity Fair: Following Devastating Wildfires, PETA Urges Oscar Party to Ditch Planet-Killing Beef Burgers

For Immediate Release:
February 6, 2025

Contact:
Nicole Perreira 202-483-7382

The meat industry is fueling the climate catastrophe and the natural disasters that come with it—so why, after wildfires nearly burned Los Angeles to the ground and almost canceled this year’s Academy Awards, are In-N-Out burgers still on the menu at Vanity Fair’s Oscar party? That’s the question PETA asks in a letter sent today to Editor-in-Chief Radhika Jones, urging her to ditch the beef patties in favor of delicious burgers from wildly popular Slutty Vegan, which has already offered to cater the event and would be a hit with vegan Oscar nominees Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Colman Domingo, Demi Moore, and Diane Warren and anyone who likes good food, cares about animals, and California.

“Supporting the animal-abusing, planet-destroying meat industry by serving In-N-Out burgers causes immense harm and is hopelessly out of touch. With the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles’ history threatening even Hollywood itself, the need to flip the script could not be more evident,” writes PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “The Oscars were nearly canceled this year because of the rapidly escalating environmental crisis we are in. Please, offer a menu that won’t feed the fires.”

Multiple studies show that the climate catastrophe has led to an increase in the frequency and severity of wildfires—and meat, egg, and dairy production are among its worst drivers. Methane emitted by cows is 80 times more powerful at warming the Earth than carbon dioxide, and the massive amount of water used in animal agriculture contributes to the dry conditions that allow wildfires to spread.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness and free vegan starter kits for anyone thinking of making the switch. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Jones follows.

February 6, 2025

Radhika Jones

Editor-In-Chief

Vanity Fair

Dear Ms. Jones:

Despite the wildfires that devastated Los Angeles this year, Vanity Fair has refused to switch to an environmentally friendly vegan menu at its upcoming Oscar party. However, it’s not too late to kiss meat goodbye. To misquote an infamously green witch: some things you cannot change—but simply replacing burgers made from cows with burgers made from plants isn’t one of them.

Supporting the animal-abusing, planet-destroying meat industry by serving In-N-Out burgers causes immense harm and is hopelessly out of touch. With the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles’ history threatening even Hollywood itself, the need to flip the script could not be more evident. Serving a meaty menu is like throwing fuel on the fire.

It is widely known that animal agriculture is one of the worst drivers of the escalating climate catastrophe, and it’s way past time for Vanity Fair to stop promoting In-N-Out burgers at one of the year’s biggest events. Eating animals also causes massive suffering on a terrifying scale that not even Dr. Dillamond could have imagined happening in Oz.

Other major events (including the Governors Ball, the Golden Globes, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards) have already led the way by going all or mostly vegan. This year, the red carpet will be glowing green with vegan nominees and past winners, including Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Demi Moore, Colman Domingo, Diane Warren, and Billie Eilish. Serving vegan fare would be inclusive of all attendees and spare animals from senseless suffering.

The Oscars were nearly canceled this year because of the rapidly escalating environmental crisis we are in the midst of. Please offer a menu that won’t feed the fires. Pinky Cole of Slutty Vegan has already contacted you with a generous offer to serve her delicious and climate-friendly burgers at your event. All you need to do is say “yes.”

Sincerely,

Tracy Reiman

Executive Vice President