Katy Perry 'Roar' Video Release: Singer Responds to PETA Backlash Over Animal Use
Earlier this week, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) attacked Katy Perry for her use of animals for entertainment in her latest music video, "Roar." Today, Perry jumped to her own defense with the help of the Animal Humane Association.
Perry's single is about feeling empowered, being your best and letting the world hear your "roar." To embody this idea, the music video, which was released early this month, features Perry as a modern day Jane of Tarzan, swinging around with vines and frolicking with tarantulas, monkeys, tigers and elephants.
This does did sit too well with PETA who is against using animals for entertainment.
"Animals used for entertainment endure horrific cruelty and suffer from extreme confinement and violent training methods," a PETA spokesman said in a statement. "They often become stressed and anxious when hauled around and forced into unfamiliar or frightening situations."
PETA also claimed that Perry used a questionable company to provide her the animals for the video.
"The Serengeti Ranch, the animal exhibitor that we believe supplied the animals for the 'Roar' video, has been inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture 22 times since 2001," the PETA spokesman said.
PETA did not stop with just statements. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Merrille Burke, who works for PETA, sent a letter to "Roar" directors and producers.
"What you may not know -- as most people do not -- is that animals used for entertainment in film and television endure horrific cruelty and suffer from extreme confinement and violent training methods," Burke wrote.
Burke continued by explaining that common elements used during music video shoots, such as heavy equipment, can be traumatizing to animals.
In response, Perry, who claims to be an animal lover and a vegetarian, obtained a letter from the American Humane Association approving of her use of animals. The American Humans Association said that they were on the set while Perry was shooting her video.
"American Humane Association was on set for the filming of the above referenced music video, which used an elephant, a monkey, birds and a tiger. After reviewing the reports, we believe that the Guidelines for the Safe Use of Animals in Filmed Media were followed and that no animal was harmed in the making of this music video," the letter reads.
According to a The Hollywood Reporter source, shooting for "Roar" was done at a "slow pace" in order to accommodate the animals and laws regarding them.
"The animals dictated the pace of the shoot," the source said.