Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Demi Lovato criticised for roasting turkey weeks after posing with one at animal sanctuary

Singer posted Thanksgiving photo of roasted turkey despite being ‘compassionate ambassador’ for animal rescue organisation

Jacob Stolworthy
Saturday 28 November 2020 15:26 GMT
Comments
Demi Lovato says watching Cruel Intentions made her realise she's Queer
Leer en Español

Demi Lovato is facing criticism for eating a turkey weeks after posing with one at a sanctuary for farm animals.

Earlier this month, the singer and actor went to California's Farm Sanctuary, which is billed as the “nation's largest and most effective farm animal rescue and protection organisation".

While there she posed alongside a turkey for a photo that was then posted to the sanctuary’s Instagram page on Thanksgiving (26 November).

It was accompanied by a caption detailing statistics about the killing of turkeys, and campaigned for people to adopt one instead of eating one.

However, Lovato then proceeded to post a photo of the turkey she roasted and ate for Thanksgiving, which didn't sit right with some of her fans.

It’s unclear whether Lovato knew this photo was going to be used on the Farm Sanctuary’s Instagram page. 

In the post’s caption, she is hailed as a “compassionate ambassador” for the organisation. 

Many have since highlighted the conflicting message conveyed by the two photos – especially the connotations surrounding the identity of the turkey she eventually ended up eating.

"I ain’t trying to control what she eats but she/her PR team could do a better job controlling what social causes her image is attached to," one person wrote.

They added: "If you can’t/don’t want to be vegan, then taking a photo shoot at a vegan rescue looks like performative clout chasing."

Amazon Music logo

Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music

Sign up now for a 30-day free trial

Sign up
Amazon Music logo

Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music

Sign up now for a 30-day free trial

Sign up

One tweeter added: “Demi Lovato adopting a turkey to cook it anyway has sent me, I’m spiralling."

“She shouldn’t be on this page,” an angry follower of the Farm Sanctuary account wrote underneath the photo.

The Independent has contacted Lovato’s representatives for comment.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in