
For Immediate Release:
May 24, 2023
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Dallas â Out of concern for Arielâs friends under the sea, PETA Kids sent a letter this morning to Luis Olloqui, the CEO of Dallas-based CinĂ©polis USA, urging him to remove fish dishes from CinĂ©polis menus while The Little Mermaid is playing in theaters and year-round. The group notes that the filmâs starâHalle Bailey as Arielâis vegan and that fish-free dishes benefit the planet in addition to sparing animals violent deaths.
âServing fish during The Little Mermaid is akin to serving poodle burgers at a dog show or elephant steaks at the zoo,â says PETA Senior Director of PETA Kids Marta Holmberg. âAriel would recoil in horror at the idea of eating her aquatic animal friends, and PETA is urging CinĂ©polis to replace its sea animal dishes with delicious faux-fish options.â
PETAâwhose motto reads, in part, that âanimals are not ours to eatâ and which opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldviewâoffers a free vegan starter kit on its website. For more information about the harmful seafood industry and vegan eating, please visit PETA.org, listen to The PETA Podcast, or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
PETAâs letter to Olloqui follows.
May 24, 2023
Luis Olloqui
CEO, Treasurer, and Board Member
Cinépolis USA
Dear Mr. Olloqui:
Greetings from People for the Ethical Treatment of AnimalsâPETA entities have more than 9 million members and supporters globally, and PETA U.S. is the largest animal rights organization in the world. Iâm writing with a suggestion ahead of the opening of The Little Mermaidâplease remove Arielâs sea animal friends from CinĂ©polis menus, at least while the film is playing in theaters.
Serving fish during The Little Mermaid is akin to serving poodle burgers at a dog show or elephant steaks at the zoo. Halle Bailey, who portrays Ariel in the film, is vegan, and this move would not only be a wonderful tribute to her but also honor one of the themes of the movieâthat fish like Flounder, crabs like Sebastian, and all of Arielâs other aquatic friends belong in the ocean, not on our plates.
Some of the most widespread fishing methods include the use of long lines and gill nets, which kill hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, birds, sharks, and other ânontargetâ marine animals every year in U.S. territories alone. Marine animals feel pain and fight for their lives, just as you and I would. The cruel practice of commercial fishing lures or traps animals and hooks them, leaving them to drown or bleed to death, sometimes after struggling for days. Additionally, scientists estimate that more than 650,000 marine mammalsâincluding dolphins, porpoises, and whalesâare seriously injured or killed every year by commercial fishing practices.
By continuing to offer the fabulous vegan Beyond Burger and nixing the bodies of Arielâs friends and family, CinĂ©polis could drive home the movieâs prevailing theme: love and respect for all. May we please hear that youâll halt seafood sales at least while The Little Mermaid is in theaters? Weâd be happy to provide recommendations for delicious vegan seafood options you could feature on your menu, instead. Thank you for your consideration. I hope to hear from you soon.
Very truly yours,
Marta Holmberg
Senior Director of PETA Kids
Source: Peta.org