Less than a month after its unveiling, King Charles’ already infamous red portrait has been vandalized… with a Wallace and Gromit cartoon.
In a post on Instagram, activists from the British animal rights group, Animal Rising, cover up Charles’ face with an image of Wallace with a speech bubble that reads, “No cheese, Gromit. Look at all this cruelty on RSPCA farms!”
According to Entertainment Tonight, King Charles is a royal patron of the RSPCA and the Animal Rising group is demanding the royal drop the “Assured Scheme.”
The organization shared details about the “vandalism” of the King’s portrait. “The action highlighted the cruelty on RSPCA Assured farms the group had exposed over the previous weekend.”
Animal Rising’s report also revealed that the farms were randomly selected. The investigators allegedly found cruelty and suffering at every single one. “The scenes include dead and dying baby chickens, dead pigs left in farm walkways, and salmon being eaten alive by sea lice.”
The report also alleged 260 legal breaches and 94 breaches of the DEGRA regulations.
One of the Animal Rising Activists Behind the King Charles Portrait ‘Vandalism’ Speaks Out
Daniel Juniper, a former Early Years Practitioner and one of the supporters involved, spoke out about “vandalizing” King Charles’ portrait.
“With King Charles being such a big fan of Wallace and Gromit, we couldn’t think of a better way to draw his attention to the horrific scenes on RSPCA Assured farms!” Juniper explained. “Even though we hope this is amusing to His Majesty, we also call on him to seriously reconsider if he wants to be associated with the awful suffering across farms being endorsed by the RSPCA.”
Juniper then continued by stating it was all to get the King’s attention. “Charles has made it clear he is sensitive to the suffering of animals in UK farms,” Juniper noted. “Now is the perfect time for him to step up.”
Juniper noted that Charles needs to call on the RSPCA to drop the Assured Scheme. He also encouraged the RSPCA to tell the truth about animal farming.
Orla Coghlan, the Animal Rising spokesperson also released a statement. “Just as Feathers McGraw fooled Wallace into a bank heist,” Coghlan said. “The RSPCA has been fooling the British public into thinking their factory farms are – in any way – an acceptable place for animals to live. It’s clear from the scenes across 45 RSPCA Assured farms that there’s no kind way to farm animals.”
Coghlan added that the RSPCA needs to take a “bolder stance” on the transition to a plant-based food system. “Beginning with calls for drastic meat reduction. The charity can, once again, lead the way for animals in the UK, rather than keeping them in misery.”
Animal Rising describes itself as a social movement to create a new relationship with all beings. It also seeks to give everyone a chance for a safe ecological future.