TIFF: PETA Activist Disrupts Pharrell Williams Biopic Premiere in Toronto

A protester with PETA, the animal rights group, stole the limelight on Tuesday night as Pharrell Williams talked about his animated biopic Piece by Piece at the Princess of Wales Theatre during the Toronto Film Festival.

The PETA activist approached the stage as Williams held a post-screening Q&A and slammed the singer and producer for using wild animal skins and fur as creative director of Louis Vuitton men’s collection. The animal rights defender shouted “stop torturing animals” as Williams, looking down from the stage and with TIFF top programmer Anita Lee at his side, responded: “You’re right. You’re right. God Bless You.”

The PETA campaigner was eventually frogmarched away by three security guards, as captured by footage of the event posted by the animal rights group to its Instagram social media page.

“We would be happy to stop disrupting Pharrell’s appearances, but despite a lot of lip service, he’s yet to ditch fur and exotic skins,” PETA executive vp Tracy Reiman said in a statement after the disruption.

“Pharrell can decide in a heartbeat, today, to use his power for good and stop being complicit in cruelty—it’s quite easy to be kind,” she added.

Earlier during TIFF, PETA activists protested a press screening for Piece by Piece, the animated documentary about singer, songwriter and record producer Pharrell Williams, during a press and industry screening.

The protesters also urged Williams to stop using wild animal skins and furs in his collections and to use instead faux furs and skins as humane options.

The international premiere of Piece by Piece at TIFF was also attended by director Morgan Neville and producers Mimi Valdés Caitrin Rogers. The animated biopic features Williams, Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z and Snoop Dogg.

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