How Hollywood Took to Social Media to Celebrate the End of Ringling
After more than three decades of pressure from PETA, ticket sales were falling precipitously, and Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus finally saw the writing on the wall. Public sentiment was changing, so the circus announced the end of its elephant acts. (Did you hear that, SeaWorld?)
As the announcement came that the cruel show was shutting down, it seemed compassionate people around the world let out a collective sigh of relief, and celebrities took to social media like the rest of us to celebrate the fantastic news.
One of the funniest people on the planet got serious. This is really big deal:
Thank god. @RinglingBros is finally doing the right thing and closing their doors. https://t.co/dXE6Y5EMzV
— Christian Serratos (@cserratos) January 15, 2017
After 146, Ringling Bros is finally ending the circus. Now we need to #EmptyTheTanks @jawsandpaws pic.twitter.com/jobNX6uzZw
— Anjali World (@anjaliworld) January 15, 2017
‘Ringling Bros. done. Congratulations & thank u 2 @peta 4 Nvr stopping until the hideous abuse stops #you did it! https://t.co/F92VQXRkir
— kathy najimy (@kathynajimy) January 16, 2017
Ringling Bros. circus to close after 146 years after attendance drophttps://t.co/cpFXQOwSba via @MailOnline
— Stephanie Pratt (@stephaniepratt) January 15, 2017
Like so many of us, even as a child, Taraji knew that circuses weren’t right:
As a child I never really liked going to the circus because the animals ALWAYS looked so sad and miserable!!!! #GodIs https://t.co/mQdo4yIoLL
— Taraji P. Henson (@TherealTaraji) January 15, 2017
Great news! The closure of Ringling Bros. circus ends 146 yrs of animal humiliation 4human amusement that shouldn’t have ever started! @peta pic.twitter.com/n6Hzr615ny
— Laura Vandervoort (@Vandiekins22) January 15, 2017
And let’s not forget The Onion, which chimed in with the perfect amount of sass and knocked this one out of the park:
Ringling Bros. Close After 146 Years https://t.co/ikcmJawZLv #WhatDoYouThink? pic.twitter.com/YQy4oJzalU
— The Onion (@TheOnion) January 17, 2017
Because of concerns about animal mistreatment and public safety, a growing number of communities are banning or restricting the use of animals in circuses. And cities all over the country are banning bullhooks. As a result of these bans and, in Ringling’s words, a public “mood shift,” the circus first retired its elephant acts before shutting down completely.
Hopefully, other circuses that use animals will soon follow suit. As we look into the future, we see all circuses switching to non-animal productions. Over the last 20 years, because of both strict regulation and changing public sentiment, circuses that force animals to perform have been exposed for the inhumane, archaic acts that they are.
There are still some circuses in the business of abusing animals. We need to continue to remind them that the world is changing and paying attention.
Urge UniverSoul to end all cruel animal acts:
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