PETA Urges Disney Not To Serve Fish To The Cast And Crew Of The Little Mermaid Remake

PETA has urged Disney to not serve fish to The Little Mermaid cast and crew during filming.

The animal rights organisation — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals — has penned an open letter to the media company requesting that only vegan food is served to everyone working on the upcoming live-action remake - which stars Halle Bailey as Princess Ariel - of the beloved 1989 animated film to make a powerful environmental statement.

PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange said: “Ariel would recoil with horror at the thought of eating her pelagic pals — and the 1989 film even includes a scene in which Sebastian the crab escapes a ruthless chef. PETA’s message to Disney is simple: Fish are our friends — not hors d’œuvres.”

The letter also notes that Halle, 21, is vegan and Javier Bardem — who will play King Triton — is a "marine enthusiast".

It read: "Eating vegan is the easiest and most effective way each of us can protect animals and our planet — just ask cast members Halle Bailey, a vegan, and marine life enthusiast Javier Bardem."

PETA hope the upcoming musical movie and its aquatic characters could help save the oceans by inspiring young cinema goers to get involved in marine conservation projects.

The letter continued: "Fishing takes marine animals from a life that’s 'the bubbles' and makes them 'poor unfortunate souls'. Up to 5 million fish are caught and killed every minute — far more animals than in any other industry — while more than 700,000 tons of equipment gets dumped from fishing vessels into our oceans each year. And fish aren’t the only victims — the indiscriminate industry traps, drowns, and mutilates countless turtles, dolphins, whales, seals, and birds callously accepted as 'bycatch'. At humans’ current pace, we could see fishless oceans within our lifetimes, but your film can help us change course."

Instead, PETA suggested the production team serve plant-based meals after Sebastian the crab — who was voiced by Samuel E. Wright in the 1989 film and will be brought to life by Daveed Diggs in the remake — escaped the kitchen after a chef tried to cook him for dinner.

They added: "With healthy, plant-based, fool-your–taste buds versions of every sea animal readily available, there’s no need to sacrifice flavour — or a life. Sebastian famously reminded Ariel that '[u]nder the sea, we’re off the hook,' and the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid is the perfect opportunity to do him and all animals proud by offering only vegan craft service."

The live-action version of The Little Mermaid is currently in production with Rob Marshall (Chicago) as director. The movie also stars Melissa McCarthy and the voices of Awkwafina and Jacob Tremblay. — BANG SHOWBIZ

Photos: TPG News/Click Photos