People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have responded to the backlash it has received for its recent “Mario kills Tanooki” campaign, admitting that it wasn’t meant to be a serious attack on Nintendo’s iconic mascot.
“Mario fans: Relax!”, PETA exclaim in their latest statement. “PETA’s game was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, a fun way to call attention to a serious issue, that raccoon dogs are skinned alive for their fur. We wish real-life tanukis could fly or swat enemies away with their tails and escape from those who profit from their skins. You can help them by never buying real fur.”
The activist group has admitted that it hadn’t expected its campaign to be taken “so literally”, stating that they are huge Mario fans too.
“PETA’s game was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, a fun way to call attention to a serious issue, that raccoon dogs are skinned alive for their fur,” Shakira Croce, PETA’s media coordinator said. “We wish real-life tanukis could fly or swat enemies away with their tails and escape from those who profit from their skins. You can help them by never buying real fur.”
PETA spokesperson Ashley Palmer continued: “No one really believes that Mario actually kills and skins a raccoon dog for his fur in Super Mario 3D Land. Our spoof is simply making a serious point: that there is a much darker story behind tanuki skins than Mario lets on. In games like Call of Duty, where characters shoot and kill animals, or in Dog Wars, where players have fun fighting and torturing dogs, it sends a dangerous message that this kind of behavior is acceptable.
“We know how beloved Mario is-we are huge Mario fans ourselves!” Palmer said. “We were a little surprised that the game was taken so literally by some, but we’re thrilled that we’re able to bring so much attention to raccoon dogs whose suffering is very real.
“We are pleased as well that so many people seem to be enjoying playing the game (and learning some things along the way!).”
[Thanks Kotaku]
PETA proclaim “Mario kills Tanooki” campaign was just a joke
