Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals shot itself in the foot with an anti-burger post published just before the Fourth of July holiday.
As everyone knows, the only thing you shouldn’t do before Independence Day is make fun of Americans for grilling hamburgers.
Unfortunately for PETA, that’s exactly what the group did in a post on social media platform X on Tuesday.
The post included an image titled “carnivore logic,” a petulant and clumsy attack on people who would choose to eat burgers this holiday season.
In the sequence of images, people are horrified when they are offered burgers made with horse, dolphin and puppy.
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The last panel shows a man who seems more than happy to eat a “dead cow burger.”
THEY ARE ALL EQUALLY BAD just eat a veggie burger this time #Fourth of July. image.twitter.com/dKcTgzMGnD
— PETA (@peta) July 2, 2024
It’s hard to imagine how PETA thought this post would catch on, but user responses proved the group made a huge mistake.
The responses were filled with photos of burgers and steaks, and unlike Sen. Chuck Schumer, it’s clear these people can cook.
I’m going to make a beef brisket this 4th of July. The cow’s name is Buttercup. Buttercup will taste delicious. image.twitter.com/qqzTnCtsa6
— Thomas Everhart (@ThomasEver71065) July 2, 2024
My heart is with you image.twitter.com/Z6XaFEgLLG
— CBas (@Crypto_CBas) July 3, 2024
— ❷❺❻ (@256HODL) July 2, 2024
This isn’t the first time PETA has made mistakes when trying to get people to eliminate meat from their meals.
On International Sushi Day, the group posted a photo of a “sad” crab begging not to be eaten.
Are you having a barbecue this Independence Day?
The crustacean was pictured thinking about sushi and the post read: “He doesn’t belong on your plate.”
The post was quickly verified as the photographed sushi did not contain crab.
He doesn’t belong on your plate. #InternationalSushiDay image.twitter.com/LzdvZOJ5fU
— PETA (@peta) June 18, 2024
PETA also appears to have used a font reserved for Apple and Apple app developers to make the post.
Independence Day is not the only American holiday exploited by the group.
The activist organization’s account took aim at last year’s Thanksgiving, posting an image of a group of anthropomorphized turkeys gathered around a table preparing to eat a cooked human being.
“We’re lucky turkeys never do this to us — you don’t have to do it to them, either,” PETA’s post read.
We’re lucky turkeys never do this to us; you don’t have to do it to them either.
Art by @freebison image.twitter.com/StSJlbxgte
— PETA (@peta) November 22, 2023
This post was also challenged by a fact check that pointed out that turkeys are not vegetarian. The birds eat mice, lizards, frogs and other small critters. It’s reasonable to say that if humans were just a few inches tall, we’d be on their menu too.
The bias against PETA is clear. If the group wants to continue to push an anti-meat stance, it should prepare to be questioned.
