PETA honors deceased actress Hayden Panettiere with final video contribution

In the organization's written contribution, it says of the deceased actress: "Hayden Panettiere wurde durch ihre Rolle als Heldin im Fernsehen bekannt, doch im wirklichen Leben war sie eine Heldin für Tiere." The organization thereby honors her longstanding commitment to animal welfare and her advocacy against the use of marine mammals in entertainment.

The protest in the bathtub

PETA also describes a specific protest action by Panettiere. According to this, she locked herself into a bathtub shortly before her death to draw attention to the fate of dolphins and whales in marine parks. With this action, she wanted to point out the cramped living conditions of the animals in the tanks of such facilities.

In the now-circulated video, Panettiere explains how she assesses the keeping of the animals. "Panettiere states in the video that the life of dolphins and whales in tiny tanks at marine parks is like living one's whole life in a bathtub," according to the description of the contribution. With this, she picks up an image she had already used in earlier campaigns of the organization.

Career and advocacy

The actress was known in the US primarily for her role in the television series "Heroes," in which she appeared as a young heroine with supernatural powers. Alongside her acting career, she campaigned for years on various animal rights issues, including the abolition of circus performances involving animals and against the trade in exotic pets.

PETA is one of the internationally best-known organizations for animal rights and regularly draws public attention with media-effective actions. The re-publication of older contributions by deceased celebrities is part of the organization's strategy to draw attention to long-standing supporters and to keep their causes visible beyond the death of the person in question.

The circumstances of Hayden Panettiere's death were not addressed further by PETA in the contribution. The organization also provided no information about the exact cause of death or the time of her death. The renewed look at her advocacy against marine parks was intended, according to the tenor of the contribution, to commemorate her work for animal welfare.

Reactions and debate

The contribution from PETA triggered numerous reactions on social networks. Fans of the actress honored both her acting work and her commitment to animals. Critics, meanwhile, pointed to the fundamental debate about the keeping of marine mammals in entertainment parks, which is receiving renewed attention through such actions.

In the US, there has been a debate for years about conditions in marine parks such as SeaWorld. Following documentaries about the keeping of orcas and dolphins, several US states had restricted or banned the keeping of certain species. The renewed publication of Hayden Panettiere's contribution comes at a time when the debate about animal welfare in the entertainment industry continues.

Legacy beyond death

PETA announced that it would continue to honor the actress's legacy in the area of animal welfare. The organization pointed out that Panettiere had campaigned for animals throughout her life and that her commitment should continue to have an effect after her death. The repeated call for a more conscious treatment of animals in the entertainment industry thus remains part of the campaign.

In addition to her advocacy for marine mammals, Panettiere also campaigned on other animal welfare issues. For example, she supported measures against the trade in dog and cat fur in Asia and advocated stricter rules on the breeding of animals for the pet market. In these areas as well, PETA referred to past contributions and actions of the actress.