PETA Makes Waves, Urges ‘The Little Mermaid’ Set to Go Fish-Free
For Immediate Release:
June 16, 2021
Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382
Out of concern for Ariel’s friends under the sea, PETA sent a letter to Disney today asking that the live-action Little Mermaid leave fish off the hook and offer only vegan food to cast and crew on the Sardinia set this summer. The group notes that the film’s star—Halle Bailey as Ariel—is already vegan and that fish-free dishes benefit the planet on top of sparing animals violent deaths.
“Ariel would recoil with horror at the thought of eating her pelagic pals—and the 1989 film even includes a scene in which Sebastian the crab escapes a ruthless chef,” says PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange. “PETA’s message to Disney is simple: Fish are our friends—not hors d’œuvres.”
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, visit PETA.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
PETA’s letter to Disney follows.
Sean Bailey
President, Production
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Dear Mr. Bailey:
Disney’s The Little Mermaid got it right in 1989—fish are intelligent, emotionally complex, and playful, and they experience pain just like we do. I’m writing on behalf of the many Disney fans at PETA and animal advocates everywhere to ask that the live-action production be completely Flounder-friendly by providing only tasty, vegan, fish-free food for the cast and crew on set.
Eating vegan is the easiest and most effective way each of us can protect animals and our planet—just ask cast members Halle Bailey, a vegan, and marine life enthusiast Javier Bardem.
Fishing takes marine animals from a life that’s “the bubbles” and makes them “poor unfortunate souls.” Up to 5 million fish are caught and killed every minute—far more animals than in any other industry—while more than 700,000 tons of equipment gets dumped from fishing vessels into our oceans each year. And fish aren’t the only victims—the indiscriminate industry traps, drowns, and mutilates countless turtles, dolphins, whales, seals, and birds callously accepted as “bycatch.” At humans’ current pace, we could see fishless oceans within our lifetimes, but your film can help us change course.
With healthy, plant-based, fool-your–taste buds versions of every sea animal readily available, there’s no need to sacrifice flavor—or a life. Sebastian famously reminded Ariel that “[u]nder the sea, we’re off the hook,” and the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid is the perfect opportunity to do him and all animals proud by offering only vegan craft service.
Thank you for considering this lifesaving proposal.
Sincerely,
Lauren Thomasson
Senior Manager
Animals in Film and Television
PETA
