I feel compelled to share the story of how animal rights protesters disrupted the closing night screening of Pharrell Williams’ biopic “Piece by Piece”.
The incident occurred just before the film’s European premiere at the Royal Festival Hall, where two protesters from the animal rights group PETA unfurled a banner that read, “Pharrell: Stop Supporting Killing Animals for Fashion.” Subsequently, the protesters chanted slogans denouncing the fashion industry’s use of animal skins and fur, particularly focusing on Williams’ position as the men’s creative director for Louis Vuitton, a brand under the LVMH conglomerate.
Pharrell Williams, who was on stage at the time, responded in a hushed voice, saying, “God bless you. Rome wasn’t built in a day. The desired changes take time to manifest. It takes a lot of planning. We are working on those things.” He went on to acknowledge the protesters, stating, “They wanted to be heard, so we heard them.”
Animal rights activists had previously disrupted the “Piece by Piece” premiere. A similar incident occurred during the film’s debut at the Toronto International Film Festival last month, where a protester rushed the stage and shouted about the use of animal products in Louis Vuitton’s designs.
These protests highlight the growing awareness and concern among the public about the ethical implications of the fashion industry’s reliance on animal-derived materials. As a news reporter, I can’t help but wonder if this issue will continue to be a point of contention for Pharrell Williams and his collaborators as they promote the film and his work with Louis Vuitton.
In a statement, PETA UK’s senior campaigns manager, Kate Werner, said, “While Pharrell’s life story is told in this navel-gazing film, animals are confined in filth on farms before their heads are bashed in and their skin is ripped off while they’re still conscious—all so pieces of their bodies can be made into Louis Vuitton’s fleeting fashion pieces.” The group is urging Williams to “use his power for good, stop being complicit in cruelty, and push Louis Vuitton into the 21st century by refusing to use wild-animal skins and fur.”
Williams, for his part, has acknowledged the need for change and expressed a willingness to work toward progress. In his response to the Toronto protest, he said, “Rome wasn’t made in a day, and sometimes when you have plans to change things and situations, you have to get in a position of power and influence where you can change people’s minds and help progression.”
As the “Piece by Piece” tour continues, it will be interesting to see how Pharrell Williams and the film’s producers navigate these protests and whether they will address the ethical concerns raised by animal rights activists. This story highlights the growing tension between the creative industries and the push for more sustainable and ethical practices, a conversation that is likely to continue gaining momentum in the years to come.