PETA activists invaded the Los Angeles premiere of Twisters on Thursday (July 11), protesting against the film’s use of rodeo scenes.
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The film is a sequel to the original 1996 film Twister, which starred Helen Hunt, Philip Seymour-Hoffman and Bill Paxton.
It includes scenes set in rodeos, which the animal rights organisation believe promote violence and torture of horses and bulls.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, one demonstrator ran down the aisle of the premiere as the cast and crew were introducing the film, while chanting: “There’s no excuse for animal abuse”.
PETA interrupts #TWISTERS premiere pic.twitter.com/Col67zJg96
— Video Store Guy (@germ560) July 12, 2024
We stirred up at a storm at the #TwistersMovie premiere tonight with a clear message against its rodeo scene. Shame on Universal Pictures for glamorizing violence towards animals! pic.twitter.com/hD5pI8HneR
— PETA (@peta) July 12, 2024
Dozens of other protestors carried signs outside the venue reading “Stop Glamorizing Rodeos” and “Lasso Tornadoes, Not Animals”.
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PETA wrote on X/Twitter after the event: “We demand a disclaimer! @universalpics, it’s time for a reality check. @Twisters’ rodeo date scene glorifies torment, violence and death of animals.”
We demand a disclaimer! @universalpics , it's time for a reality check. @Twisters’ rodeo date scene glorifies torment, violence, and death of animals. pic.twitter.com/hECBZbeMAr
— PETA (@peta) July 12, 2024
The organisation’s Lisa Lange released a statement saying: “While tornado chasers voluntarily risk their lives, the terrified animals who are mercilessly bullied in rodeo arenas and forced to recreate distressing scenarios for movies have no choice.”
“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.”
Last week, Tom Cruise caused chaos at the film’s London premiere, popcorn in hand. He attended with his friend and Top Gun: Maverick co-star Glen Powell, who leads the film alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones.
Minari director Lee Isaac Chung has helmed the new sequel. In the first trailer, which was shared during this year’s Super Bowl, Edgar-Jones and Powell are seemingly part of two rival storm-chasing teams, with both groups driving through the eye of destructive tornadoes. “You don’t face your fears,” Powell tells Edgar-Jones at one point. “You ride them.”
Twisters will also star Anthony Ramos, Sasha Lane, Kiernan Shipka, Tunde Adebimpe and more and premieres next week (July 19).