A PETA protest became one of the week’s most talked-about viral moments after an activist appeared completely painted red, dressed as a lobster and lying on a huge plate, right at the entrance to the traditional Maine Lobster Festival in the United States. The organization explained that it sought to “make people see the victim behind the tradition”.
The images quickly spread on social media. In one of the videos, which surpassed 18 million views, the woman remains motionless next to a slice of lemon and a piece of butter, simulating the dish normally served with this seafood. In another recording published by the organization, the activist runs through the festival while several attendees watch her in surprise.
PETA maintains that around 16.000 lobsters are cooked alive each year during the festival and claims that these animals are capable of feeling pain, so it asked attendees to opt for vegan alternatives. The organizers, meanwhile, defended the event, assuring that they use traditional, legal, and widely accepted cooking methods that have been in place for decades.
The scene sparked an intense debate online. While some users applauded the creativity of the protest and its message about animal welfare, others described it as exaggerated and even criticized the use of such a provocative staging to attract attention.
Whatever one’s position, the image of the “human lobster” ended up becoming one of the most striking viral moments of the American summer.
Watch the video here:
And here is another one: