Joaquin Phoenix has joined PETA's campaign calling for the world to "end speciesism" and switch to a vegan diet.
The 46-year-old Academy Award winner has been vegan since he was three years old, per The Guardian, and has now aligned himself with PETA's 'We Are All Animals' campaign in a bid to "live vegan" and help "end speciesism".
According to PETA, "speciesism" is akin to "sexism, racism, and other forms of discrimination" in that it is "an oppressive belief that promotes the idea that all other animal species are inferior to humans".
Speaking to the animal rights organization, the Joker star said: "When we look at the world through another animal’s eyes, we see that inside we’re all the same—and that we all deserve to live free from suffering."
The actor has long been an outspoken advocate for animal rights, even his is acceptance speech at the 2020 Academy Awards to speak about equality in nature.
"I think we’ve become very disconnected from the natural world," Phoenix said in his 'Best Actor' acceptance speech said. "We go into the natural world and we plunder it for its resources. We feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow and steal her baby, even though her cries of anguish are unmistakeable. Then we take her milk that’s intended for her calf and we put it in our coffee and our cereal."
He even helped produce the 2021 movie documentary, Gunda, which explores the significance of pig sentience.
However, despite his firm beliefs, he also told The Sunday Times earlier this year that he will not "indoctrinate" his son into the world of veganism.
Speaking of his one-year-old son, Phoenix said: "Certainly I would hope that [he is vegan], but I’m not going to impose my belief on my child. I don’t think that’s right."
Phoenix continued: "I’m going to educate him about the reality. I’m not going to indoctrinate him with the idea that McDonald’s have a Happy Meal because there’s nothing f***ing happy about that meal."
This also is not the first time the Hollywood star has worked with PETA, having previously spoken out as part of the organization's 'Cruelty Doesn't Suit Me' campaign.
Addressing the treatment of sheep in the wool industry, Phoenix said: "When PETA sent me that video of this undercover investigation of what happened in these shearing farms, that was really eye-opening [...] It's a trade that I certainly don't feel comfortable being involved in anymore.
"There are alternatives that they could use that are cruelty-free, but still stylish."
