Animal rights organization PETA has erected a large-format billboard in New York’s Times Square backing comments made by singer Billie Eilish, who sparked widespread public debate after declaring in a recent interview that “eating meat is inherently wrong.”
The display, located at 1530 Broadway adjacent to a McDonald’s and a Popeye’s, coincides with the theatrical release of Eilish’s concert film at nearby AMC and Regal cinemas on 42nd Street. PETA says the Times Square placement is the first in a broader nationwide rollout of messaging in support of the singer’s remarks.
Eilish doubles down on social media
Eilish’s original comments drew significant backlash from meat-eaters, prompting her to respond on Instagram, where she shared graphic footage of animal agriculture practices with her more than 125 million followers. The footage depicted calves being handled roughly at transport, pigs on slaughterhouse floors, and other scenes from within the meat and dairy supply chain.
“Go watch a documentary or two and some footage of what is done to the animals u claim to love and what it does to the planet u pretend to love as well,” she wrote. “If that footage was hard for u to watch I encourage u to pls take a look at urself.”
The posts generated visible consumer responses, with followers publicly crediting Eilish with prompting dietary changes. Comments including “Billie Eilish made me go vegan” and “Just saw Billie’s Instagram story. I am now a vegetarian” circulated widely.
PETA’s response
PETA President Tracy Reiman connected the campaign directly to the singer’s message: “If you claim to love animals but you’re still eating them, you’re lying to yourself, and Billie Eilish and PETA aren’t afraid to say it. Helping animals, the environment, and our own health is as easy as leaving animals off our plates, and PETA’s free vegan starter kit can help anyone make the switch.”
The organization also cited statistics it uses frequently in its outreach, noting that a person who adopts a vegan diet spares close to 200 animals per year and reduces their food-related carbon footprint considerably. PETA further referenced research linking plant-based diets to reduced risk of certain chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
Celebrity-driven vegan advocacy has become an increasingly visible tool for organizations like PETA, which has previously partnered with or amplified public figures including Joaquin Phoenix, Pamela Anderson, and Paul McCartney.
