PETA Stirs Up a Storm Over Rodeo Depiction in ‘Twisters,’ Tells Universal to Buck Up and Add a Cruelty Disclaimer!
Don’t get it twisted—PETA’s all for “wrangling” tornadoes, but abusive rodeos should be left in the dust. Since Universal Pictures insists on glamorizing rodeos in its upcoming summer blockbuster Twisters, the buck stops with the studio to add a disclaimer condemning these cruel events and discouraging audiences from attending them.
Lasso Tornadoes, Not Animals
To animals used in rodeos, these violent spectacles are nothing like what is shown in Twisters, which stars Glen Powell as a rodeo cowboy turned storm-chasing influencer. With the use of cruel electric prods, flank or bucking straps, and spurs—all of which burn, wound, or dig into the animals’ skin and sensitive tissue—rodeos take normally tame, docile animals and terrorize and provoke them into behavior that makes them appear aggressive.
Animals used in rodeos often sustain severe and sometimes fatal injuries, including broken backs or necks, punctured lungs, deep internal organ bruising, and ripped tendons. Sometimes, they even suffer heart attacks or aneurysms.
Today’s filmmakers have all sorts of methods at their disposal for creating “movie magic”—but instead of using computer-generated imagery or existing stock footage of real-life rodeos, Twisters exploited live horses and other animals in staged rodeo scenes.
PETA Storms the ‘Twisters’ Premiere
A herd of PETA “cows” spiraled toward the Twisters premiere at Regency Village Theatre to blast the film for forcing animals to perform in distressing scenes that glorify rodeos. Bearing signs that read, “Calves’ Necks Are Twisted at Rodeos,” the animal allies called on Universal Pictures to stop glamorizing animal abuse. PETA urged the studio to add a disclaimer to the movie’s end credits about the real-life cruelty inherent in rodeos and to discourage audiences from attending them. Silence in response was our invitation to protest.
In letters to Universal Pictures, director Lee Isaac Chung, the cast, and select film critics, PETA pointed out that horses, calves, and others who are used in rodeos don’t choose to participate in these senseless displays of violence. In a news release, PETA’s Senior Vice President, Lisa Lange, wrote, “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.” A PETA supporter disrupted the July 11 premiere saying, “We urge you to add a disclaimer!”
Animals can suffer tremendously on film and TV sets. Horses have died during the making of HBO’s The Gilded Age, The Lord of the Rings TV series prequel The Rings of Power, and other major productions.
The ‘Powell’ to Change
When left to their own devices, horses gallop through open grasslands alongside their close herd members and mother cows protect and nurture their precious calves. These sensitive animals do not want to be used in rodeos or exploited in films. YOU can speak up for them by sending a message to the studio. Please leave polite comments on Universal Pictures’ Facebook, Instagram, and X pages about why animal exploitation has no place in its productions.
If you witness animal abuse or neglect during the production of a film or television show, please contact PETA immediately:
