PETA Release Statement Praising The Late Richard Donner For His Love Of Animals

There has been a huge outpouring of condolences from many over the death of filmmaker Richard Donner. The Lethal Weapon and The Goonies director passed away on 5 July 2021 and many friends, fans and filmmakers have paid their respects to him.

The latest praise for Donner comes from animal rights organisation, PETA. Donner was a huge animal rights and PETA supporter who often wove the theme into many of his movies – everything from Free Willy to Lethal Weapon 2. 

PETA—whose motto reads, “Animals are not ours to experiment on, eat, wear, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview.

This is the statement PETA President Ingrid Newkirk:

“PETA will remember Richard as a brilliant director and producer whose movies drew  people to view animals as someone, not something. A pioneer, long before Blackfish opened eyes and hearts, Richard revealed the anguish of captive orcas with Free Willy—and, thanks to the impact of his  film, Keiko the orca was rescued from marine park prison and spent many joyful years swimming free in Norway’s coastal waters. Richard holds a special place in PETA’s heart for his activism and kindness, and we will miss him.”