Alec Baldwin is not happy about live animals being in… Radio City Christmas Spectacular‘s crib.
In a letter on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), actor and producer James Dolan, CEO of Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corporation, asked that the annual musical show stop using donkeys, camels and sheep.
“The Christmas Spectacular already features extremely talented human performers, and reinventing the iconic show to be animal-free will bring it into the modern era and truly resonate with the Christmas spirit,” Baldwin wrote in a letter obtained by The DailyMail available.
“Ensure that this year’s show is the last to use animals and banish this archaic practice from your production and into the history books.”
Baldwin further noted, “Holidays and performances are anything but joyful for animals, who are often deprived of all that is natural and important to them.”
He emphasized that live shows are harmful to animals, which are forced “to be hauled from city to city in cramped trucks, with props stored in a back room and subjected to loud noises and confusing lights.”
Baldwin also said that the Dawn Animal Agency, which provides animals for film, television and other productions, was cited by the US Department of Agriculture for allegedly depriving the animals of essentials such as clean enclosures, space and veterinary care.
In a statement to the New York Post, an MSG spokesperson denied that Radio City obtains its animals from Dawn Animal Agency.
“The safety of the animals in the Christmas Spectacular’s popular ‘Living Nativity’ is always our priority,” said the spokesperson. “Their wellbeing is essential and they will receive excellent 24-hour care during the show’s limited run.”
Source: Deadline
Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
