‘Don’t Be a Prick!’: Alicia Silverstone Bares All in a New Ad
Wearing nothing but vegan leather boots in a field of cactus, actor Alicia Silverstone greets Christmas shoppers in a new PETA US ad.
In the ad, which also appears on a billboard in Times Square, New York, Silverstone reminds everyone that they can choose innovative vegan leathers made from prickly pear cactus, apple, or mushroom instead of supporting industries that kill animals for their skin.
I never, ever, get naked in TV, in film, nothin’. … But I’ve done it for PETA ’cause that’s how much it matters to me. … [T]he amount of resources, water, food, oil for transport, the amount of energy that goes into making leather is extraordinary. It’s just not sustainable. The Earth can’t handle it.
– Alicia Silverstone
The Leather Industry Is Killing the Planet
Compared with the production of plant-based leathers, that of cow leather has nearly 10 times the negative environmental impact and contributes more to climate change, water pollution, water depletion, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Up to 80% of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest has been caused by the destruction of land in order to raise animals, and 130 different chemicals, including cyanide, are used to turn their skin into leather.
Millions of Animals Are Slaughtered for Leather Shoes and Jackets
Many of the millions of cows killed for leather endure castration, branding, and tail-docking – all without painkillers – and at abattoirs, animals are sometimes skinned while they’re still conscious.
In 2021, a PETA Asia investigation into Indonesian abattoirs found egregious cruelty to Australian cattle, many of whose skins are supplied to brands that export leather shoes worldwide.
Join Alicia: Don’t Wear Leather
It’s easier than ever to choose clothes and accessories from among the many fashionable animal-free shoes, jackets, belts, bags, wallets, and other items that are readily available.
We’re urging Levi’s to switch to vegan leather patches on its jeans. Join us now:
