At last night’s 77th Golden Globe Awards, notable animal activist and vegan Joaquin Phoenix won for his outstanding performance in the feature film Joker.
The talented actor used his acceptance speech to speak on behalf of the millions of animals who are killed every day on factory farms for animal agriculture, making the link to climate change. Phoenix mentioned the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s “bold decision” to serve a plant-based meal at the event, further noting that animal agriculture is the third main cause of climate change.
“The climate crisis is impossible to ignore and after speaking with our peers, and friends in the community, we felt challenged to do better,” Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) President Lorenzo Soria shared on the event’s Facebook page.
According to Soria, the move represents “a small step in response to a big problem.
The Golden Globe Awards served chilled golden beet soup for an appetizer, “scallops” made from king oyster mushrooms for the main course, and a “vegan opera dome” for dessert, among the delicious plant-based offerings that Beverly Hilton‘s Executive Chef Matthew Morgan prepared and served during the show.
The HFPA also partnered with its “official eco-conscious and Carbon Neutral water sponsor,” Icelandic Glacial, to hydrate guests via glass bottles; noting that by eliminating single-use plastic, and serving a 100% plant-based meal, they aim to raise awareness around small changes that can have a greater impact on the world.
As per a statement released by the company, Icelandic Glacial will donate water to a humanitarian cause of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s choice. This is not the first time Icelandic Glacial has teamed up to donate water to help people affected by a disaster; they were one of the first major companies on the scene to donate water to Haiti relief in 2010, as well as sending water to the people of Flint, Michigan, in 2016.
Animal and climate activists also in attendance included Leonardo DiCaprio and the evening’s host Ricky Gervais.
