PETA thinks ‘chicken’ is an ‘anti-animal slur’ – and ‘speciesism’ is on par with racism and homophobia
PETA said “everyone who believes in equality and justice” needs to stop using the “slur” chicken. (Envato)
Controversial animal charity PETA has claimed that calling someone a “chicken” is an “anti-animal slur” on par with other forms of discrimination.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) posted on Twitter on Tuesday (26 January): “Words can create a more inclusive world, or perpetuate oppression.
“Calling someone an animal as an insult reinforces the myth that humans are superior to other animals and justified in violating them.
“Stand up for justice by rejecting supremacist language.”
Words can create a more inclusive world, or perpetuate oppression.
Calling someone an animal as an insult reinforces the myth that humans are superior to other animals & justified in violating them.
Stand up for justice by rejecting supremacist language. pic.twitter.com/HFmMWDcc5A
— PETA (@peta) January 26, 2021
It added: “Anti-animal slurs degrade animals by applying negative human traits to certain species.
“Perpetuating the idea that animals are sly, dirty, or heartless desensitises the public and normalises violence against other animals.
“Speciesist language isn’t just harmful, but it is also inaccurate… PETA urges everyone who believes in equality and justice to take a look at their personal beliefs and the language they use, and break free of this outdated mindset that denigrates other animals.”
PETA urges everyone who believes in equality and justice to take a look at their personal beliefs and the language they use, and break free of this outdated mindset that denigrates other animals.
Always be kind and consider not using insults at all.— PETA (@peta) January 26, 2021
The charity said it considered “chicken”, “sloth” and “rat” to be “supremacist language” and “anti-animal slurs”.
Did peta really try to say chicken was a slur?— Lydia ?️? ? ? ? (@L__ydia) January 28, 2021
The tweet, which has now been shared almost 2,000 times, caused outrage and confusion on social media.
One person wrote: “Can someone please explain to PETA what a slur is.”
“PETA hasn’t got a clue how much extreme pain the anti-LGBT+ slurs are to some people,” wrote another, “so they should just back the hell off with that s**t!”
One Twitter user said: “Hi PETA. Could we maybe think about ending racism first? Just a thought.”
Hi Peta. Could we maybe think about ending racism first? Just a thought. https://t.co/W6QF45jnCW— Lady Storm Harley of Lockdown ? (@_Embo) January 28, 2021
Others began sharing theories that the tweet about “anti-animal slurs” was so ridiculous, the account must have been taken over by the meat industry.
One wrote: “I genuinely believe that PETA is a meat industry PsyOp designed to make veganism look bad, because literally how else can you explain the fact that every single one of their ad campaigns and social media posts is deeply embarrassing.”
“I mean there are so many easy sells when it comes to animal rights, but here’s f**kin’ PETA telling us off for being racist to rats like come on,” said another. “If I wanted to discredit the whole movement I’d do exactly this.”
Despite the intense criticism, PETA followed up with a video on Thursday (28 January), in which members of the group held an “anti-speciesism demo” and claimed: “We’re telling people that when they fight racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and any other social injustice, to also consider animals and consider speciesism.”
