Guernsey Press

Joaquin Phoenix attends pig vigil at slaughterhouse after picking up SAG award

The Joker actor criticised the meat and dairy industry in an interview.

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Joker actor Joaquin Phoenix attended a pig vigil in Los Angeles after winning a Screen Actors Guild award at the weekend.

The 45-year-old thespian joined the Los Angeles Animal Save group in feeding water to pigs in trucks at a local slaughterhouse.

Speaking to a reporter for Jane Unchained News – which describes itself as “a social media news network for animal rights/veganism” – Phoenix, a committed vegan, revealed why he was in attendance.

“I think that we have a moral obligation to talk about it and expose it for what it really is. We’re so indoctrinated with these images of happy animals on farms on the covers of milk containers and at restaurants, and it’s a lie.”

Phoenix described his visit as “a little antidote to what I just was doing”, referring to his appearance at the SAG Awards, where he picked up a best actor award for his portrayal of a troubled loner in Joker.

He added that some people in the industry had been in touch to thank him for his activism, and said that he drew optimism from the activists and families he had seen at the pig vigil.

Joker Special Screening – London
Joaquin Phoenix attending a special screening of the Joker held at Cineworld, Leicester Square in London (Ian West/PA)

Earlier in January, Phoenix was mocked online after pledging to wear the same tuxedo for the whole awards season to reduce waste.

Designer Stella McCartney said she had made a custom suit for the Joker star, which he would wear to every awards ceremony until the Oscars.

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