Joaquin Phoenix Heads Straight from SAG Awards to Animal Rights Vigil

He may play one of the most iconic villains, but after winning his umpteenth best actor award at the 26th annual SAG Awards, “Joker” star Joaquin Phoenix, still in a tuxedo, headed directly to a local slaughterhouse to offer comfort to pigs who were about to be killed.

Phoenix told vlogger Jane Velez-Mitchell:

Most people don’t really know of the torture and murder in the meat and dairy industry. I’ve seen it for what it is, so I have to be here. We have moral obligations to talk about it and expose it for what it really is. We are so indoctrinated with these happy images of animals on farms, on the covers of meat containers, at restaurants, and it’s a lie. I think people need to know the truth and we have an obligation to do that.

Los Angeles Animal Save holds regular vigils outside Farmer John in Vernon. As trucks carrying pigs idle at the gates, Phoenix and other activists provide animals water and compassion in their final moments.

Amy Jean Davis, founder of L.A. Animal Save said:

Joaquin’s regular attendance at our vigils in L.A. has inspired activists both locally and globally. We are so grateful for his voice. All over the world, activists are bearing witness to animals bound for slaughter and waking up the world to their plight.

This act of “bearing witness” at peaceful vigils takes place worldwide through The Animal Save Movement’s global network of over 700 grassroots groups, of which LA Animal Save is the biggest.