Most of the time, when PETA is involved with a headline, it’s because they’re cracking down on something. This time, however, that isn’t the case. In fact, PETA is honoring Amazon series The Boys with a special award!
It turns out that a scene is being celebrated where the character Deep, played by Chace Crawford, eats a live octopus. You might be wondering why PETA would be excited about such a sequence. Well, as it turns out, they chose to use a CGI octopus for the moment. Because of this, PETA is quite pleased with The Boys, and they’ve awarded them with a “Tech, Not Terror” award.
As noted via ComicBook, PETA delivered the following statement to explain their decision:
“PETA Awards Amazon Prime Series The Boys for CGI Octopus Scene
Los Angeles – PETA is honoring actor Chace Crawford, The Boys creator Eric Kripke, and the show’s special effects team with its “Tech, Not Terror” Award for the cruelty-free and thought-provoking scene involving a computer-generated octopus in the Amazon Prime series’ latest episode.
In the scene, Crawford’s character is forced to eat a close friend-an octopus named Timothy, whom the show depicts as an individual with a family, using cutting-edge technology instead of a live animal.
In an interview about the animal’s grisly and tragic end, showrunner Kripke explains that the mollusk “didn’t deserve the cruel fate of being eaten raw”-a fate many real octopuses meet, as billons of invertebrates are killed for food each year.
“The Boys’ real heroes are working behind the scenes, creating a realistic CGI octopus so that animals can live in peace,” says PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange. “PETA is celebrating this series for helping viewers see every octopus as an individual like Timothy, not as an entrée or as entertainment.”
Highly intelligent and known to caress and kiss, octopuses communicate with each other using patterns and colors. They use tools, can unscrew jar lids, and have the capacity to feel bored. Those held in captivity have even attempted to escape and squirted their captors with water.”
While it’s quite a disturbing scene, it’s one that everyone is grateful used a fake octopus instead of a real one. As such, the award does make sense. It’s just surprising to see PETA deliver such an award. Especially considering the complaints they’re usually referenced for. Perhaps it goes to show just how beloved of a series The Boys is.
Fans can currently stream The Boys on Amazon Prime Video.