PETA has urged the rock band Cage The Elephant to temporarily change its name ahead of an upcoming NFL halftime show in Munich.
The group is set to perform during the New England Patriots versus Detroit Lions game this Sunday, November 15. Ahead of that appearance, PETA is calling on Cage The Elephant to temporarily rebrand as “Free The Elephant” across its social media platforms for one week.
According to a press release from the animal rights organisation, an elephant named Okha “has spent most of her life forced to perform in the circus under the threat of punishment.” PETA is campaigning to “help retire her to a reputable sanctuary.”
PETA claims Okha is “currently being hauled around in a trailer with an exhibitor, Brian Franzen,” who allegedly has a history of felony animal cruelty charges and “was caught on camera yanking and striking an elephant with a bullhook.”
In a letter to Cage The Elephant, PETA wrote: “There ain’t no rest for Okha. We think you’d agree that she deserves the chance to spend her remaining years in peace with care, dignity, and respect.”
“Lending a rendition of your iconic name for a short while could… help us come a little closer to ending animal cruelty in circuses,” the letter added.
PETA said it has organised more than 30 demonstrations on Okha’s behalf, contacted venues hosting animal acts, and rallied tens of thousands of supporters to call for her retirement. The organisation is also encouraging people to call on venues to stop hosting circuses that use animals and to help retire Okha to a reputable sanctuary where she could roam expansive habitats, forage, receive expert veterinary care, and have the companionship of other elephants.
The band has yet to respond publicly to PETA’s request, and NME has contacted the band for comment. Franzen has also not yet publicly commented on PETA’s claims.
The appeal follows PETA’s previous outreach to Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, whom the organisation urged to temporarily change his name to “Robert Plant Wool” to raise awareness for plant-based alternatives to sheep’s wool. PETA has also previously called on Nintendo to alter the appearance of the Mario Kart World character Cow, arguing that its design promotes cruelty to animals.
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