‘Twisters’ premiere sabotaged by PETA protest over controversial scene
On July 11th in Los Angeles, the premiere of Lee Isaac Chung’s new Twisters remake was disrupted by animal rights organisation, PETA, due to a controversial scene in the movie.
The new movie, set for release in cinemas on July 19th, stars Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Brandon Perea, Anthony Ramos and Daryl McCormack. Twisters is based on Mark L. Smith’s screenplay, adapted from a story by Joseph Kosinski, and acts as a standalone sequel to the hit 1996 movie Twister, albeit with a new cast.
While Twisters is one of the most anticipated movies of the summer, and looks set to become a box office smash, the film’s rodeo scene has upset animal rights protestors. They made their voice heard at a screening in Los Angeles shortly before Chung, Powell and Edgar-Jones were about to introduce it to an audience.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, a protestor rushed to the stage after running down the aisle of the theatre before security swiftly removed them from the venue while the demonstrator continued to scream.
Furthermore, many protestors were seen holding signs outside of the premiere, and held signs, including one that read, “animals have heart attacks at rodeos”. Meanwhile, several wore cow masks, and they also chanted, “Shame on you”, at the film’s cast over its depiction of rodeos.
Additionally, PETA wrote on their official Twitter account: “We demand a disclaimer! Universal Pictures, it’s time for a reality check. Twisters’ rodeo date scene glorifies torment, violence, and death of animals.”
In a statement, PETA’s Lisa Lange said: “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.”
Lange continued: “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.”
Despite the protests from PETA, Universal Pictures are yet to comment on the demonstrations and those involved with creating the movie have also remained silent.
Recently, Powell spoke glowingly about the movie and boasted it contains “one of the most incredible action sequences of all time.”
Detailing the scene, he told Fandango, “Tornadoes aren’t tender and you have to put your body on the line in order to sell that experience so I think like the cool part about this cast is that everybody is that invested. Everybody’s willing to put their body on the line to do things that sell the movie, you know, sell the experience.”
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