Jeremy Clarkson's pub targeted by activists who stage grim 'farmer's dog' stunt
Warning: this article contains pictures of a PETA stunt with a fake barbecued dog that some readers may find distressing
Activists staged a ‘pet BBQ’ protest outside of Jeremy Clarkson’s Farmer Dog pub in West Oxfordshire, allegedly ‘outraging’ some ‘angry meat eaters’.
On Wednesday (26 April), the eatery run by the former Top Gear icon became the site of an animal rights organisation’s pro-plant-based display.
It saw a stand being set up, with PETA later explaining the idea was to liken eating pigs to eating a beloved pet, such as a dog.
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“Pigs feel pain and fear, love their families, and value their lives - just like dogs do. There’s no difference. Go vegan,” a social media post read.
The protesters placed a faux dog on an unlit barbecue, surrounded by condiments like mustard and ketchup and corn cobs.
One of the activists was dressed up like a pit master, holding tongs.
In a statement, Kate Werner, PETA Senior Campaigns Manager, alleged that Clarkson, 66, who recently revealed his cancer diagnosis, had ‘always been fond of pigs’.
The comment referred to the Clarkson’s Farm star who once proclaimed how ‘weird’ it was to ‘love and raise’ the animals on his Chipping Norton farm, only to ‘kill them and eat them’.
“It is a strange place to be when you haven't been a farmer all your life. But we are getting better at it. We definitely are,” the ex-Grand Tour icon said.
Werner said that if Clarkson and patrons of The Farmer’s Dog pub supposedly ‘loved’ pigs so much, then they ought to ‘put that fondness into practice and leave pigs off their plates’.
"Because there’s no more reason to eat a pig than a dog,” she added.
Emily Rice, PETA UK’s Senior Communications Manager, chimed in, claiming that ‘the dog barbecue isn’t the first time PETA has forced Clarkson to confront his moral inconsistency’.
“Previously, PETA gifted the vocally anti-vegan TV host a gruesome Christmas massacre jumper, added a ‘Kids Book’ starring screaming animals to his reading list, and sent a giant broccoli to ambush his tractor at Farm Fest,” she wrote.
“Clarkson employs bluster when defending animal abuse, but deep down, we know it doesn’t sit well with him. He claims he’s ‘always been fond of pigs’ and has shed a tear when sending them to slaughter.
“Will he put his morals where his mouth is and leave pigs off his plate? Will you?”
The so-called ‘dog BBQ’ protest has caused mixed reactions on social media, with one X user in favour of the display typing: “Pigs are smarter than dogs. Everyone knows this. The mental gymnastics are exhausting honestly.”
“I keep pigs and dogs as pets. The line we place between pet and livestock is absolutely arbitrary,” argued someone else.
“Well done. This is the kind of action that has a re-action from the carnists,” a third said.
Others didn’t take to kindly to the demonstration.
“Thanks for the reminder, I need to pick up some bacon,” said one.
Another joked: “Any buns with that meat?”
“I'm not going vegan for one reason...your so called 'food' is S**T! Tastes f****ing vile! How about you just leave the rest of us alone you t***ers,” penned a third.
LADbible Group has previously contacted The Farmer’s Dog pub for comment.
Topics: Celebrity, UK Food, News, Restaurants and bars
Ella Scott