In another instance of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) making a mountain out of a molehill, the non-profit organisation fighting for animal rights have decided to bring their latest issue to Nintendo.
For what you asked? For the depiction of “Mario Kart World” cow character (also named Cow) wearing a nose ring.
In a letter to Nintendo’s Shuntaro Furukawa, PETA’s Senior Vice President of Marketing Engagement, Joel Bartlett, wrote in part, “We herd there’s a new star in Mario Kart World: Cow! She is already winning hearts everywhere – including ours. But one detail has us hitting the brakes: The brass ring in Cow’s nose. Would you please show empathy towards bovines and remove the nose ring?”
Stating that the nose ring is being used by the meat and dairy industry to exploit and control animals, PETA stated that the brass ring in Cow’s nose glosses over real world violence and cruelty to animals.
“Remove the nose ring and let Cow race freely—without any painful reminders of the industries that treat animals like profit-making machines. Every animal is someone. So, leave the rings to Sonic and let Cow breathe free!” the letter added.
The letter had since received mockery from netizens and gamers alike, with many saying that PETA has been “doing everything but actually save animals”.
One X user commented, “We’re living in a world where Peta helps fake animals and worries about them but don’t really give a f*** about real animals as much as they lead on.”
Another posted, “IT’S. A. VIDEO. GAME.”
