The animal rights activists PETA have sparked criticism and confusion after an appearance on Good Morning Britain calling for people to stop calling their pets 'pets.'
A spokesperson from the organisation appeared on Tuesday's edition of the show advocation for pet owners to adopt the words like 'companion' instead for their dogs and cats.
Jennifer White, PETA's senior media officer said:
A lot of people at home who have dogs and cats refer to them as pets and they refer to themselves as owners, and this implies that the animals are a possession.
Presenter Piers Morgan wasn't having any of this and proceeded to tear into the spokesperson, pointing out that PETA literally has the word 'pet' in their name (the acronym stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).
You want to ban the word pet but you want your organisation to carry on being called Peta?
Do you see the problem? But pet is offensive. I’m offended by the use of the word pet.
Another bone of contention was PETA's campaign to have anti-animal phrases eradicated, something which saw them receive backlash in December 2018.
Morgan said:
Oh for God’s sake, you don’t even believe this guff.’ When you refer to animals, not as the living beings that they are, but as an inanimate object, it can reflect our treatment on our animals.
One-trick pony, what’s your problem with that? Tell me why one-trick pony is wrong.
In response, White said:
We don’t need to go through every phrase, we’ll be here all day.
Morgan added:
Actually we do because if you want to change the language, I would like to know why. What is wrong with one-trick pony?
Some ponies love doing tricks. Have you asked them? Have you asked the ponies?
'We don't hate the word pet we're encouraging people to use something better like companion.' Senior Media Office… https://t.co/ALfQirqELi— Good Morning Britain (@Good Morning Britain) 1580805701
The confrontation had people scratching their heads after they found themselves agreeing with Morgan, who is a divisive and contrary figure at the best of times.
Morgan: “you want to ban the word pet!” PETA lady: “no we don’t” Morgan: “you want to ban the word pet!” PETA la… https://t.co/Xtd9ub1304— Jacinta Foxton-Locks (@Jacinta Foxton-Locks) 1580805548
You need to stop saying you ‘own’ a dog or that you’re a ‘dog owner’. Why? PETA say we must stop using the word… https://t.co/y1RBsBJ1zA— Ewen Cameron 🎙 (@Ewen Cameron 🎙) 1580806325
For once, I actually agree with @piersmorgan. Not being allowed to call your pets a pet is absolutely ridiculous 😂😂 #GMB— Chantelle 💕 (@Chantelle 💕) 1580805409
When it was all over, Morgan surprisingly called it his 'favourite interview' during his time on the show while reiterating the point about the name.
This was my favourite interview in 4.5yrs on @GMB. #PETA https://t.co/Y7wy7ie6Qt— Piers Morgan (@Piers Morgan) 1580809704
They’re. Literally. Called. PETa. https://t.co/1BX1TgvXxy— Piers Morgan (@Piers Morgan) 1580809809
PETA did offer some sort of response by asking if people should take the opportunity to use kinder language towards other living beings.
If we have the opportunity to use language which is kinder, more respectful towards other living beings, why wouldn… https://t.co/QhTzbvgM8h— PETA UK (@PETA UK) 1580807929
As we come to learn more and more about animals it’s time that we start phasing out harmful words that trivialize a… https://t.co/rGSycAnjzJ— PETA UK (@PETA UK) 1580807930
The Journal of Animal Ethics published an academic paper on how derogatory words “pets” or “pests” affects the way… https://t.co/KfRmvnAkUG— PETA UK (@PETA UK) 1580807931
Elsewhere, PETA had found themselves at another storm of controversy after claiming that they had an advert banned from Sunday's Super Bowl which depicted animals taking the knee in the same way that NFL players had done to protest police brutality.
HT Metro