American actor Joaquin Phoenix has rescued a cow and her week-old calf from a slaughterhouse in Los Angeles.
The Hollywood star headed to the American slaughterhouse to see if the owner would give up any animals in footage uploaded by animal rights activist and Farm Sanctuary president Gene Baur.
The clip was filmed the day after Joaquin, 45, won Best Actor at the Academy Awards for his role in Joker.
The Gladiator was joined by his fiancée and fellow activist Rooney Mara, both their mothers, Mr Baur, Earthlings director Shaun Monson, Las Angles Animal Save Founder Amy Jean Davis.
Joaquin spoke with the CEO of the Pico Rivera slaughterhouse, Anthony di Maria, and discussed his views on animal welfare.
Joaquin Phoenix discussed his views on animal cruelty during his Oscars acceptance speech earlier this month (Image: Getty Images)
Mr di Maria said his operation was different from others across America in the way they don’t separate their newborn cows from their mothers straight after birth.
The Oscar winner and his group were given a tour of the facility before Anthony allowed him to take a cow and her week-old calf.
The emotional film shows the A-lister carry the calf into the trailer, before he names the mother cow Liberty and her daughter Indigo.
The two animals were taken to Farm Sanctuary, where they live in peace and quiet.
The Joker star saved a cow and her young calf just days after his Oscars win (Image: Nation Earth)
Phoenix said: “I never thought I’d find friendship in a slaughterhouse, but meeting Anthony and opening my heart to his, I realise we might have more in common than we do differences.
“Without his act of kindness, Liberty and her baby calf, Indigo, would have met a terrible demise.
“My hope is, as we watch baby Indigo grow up with her mum Liberty at Farm Sanctuary, that we’ll always remember that friendships can emerge in the most unexpected places; and no matter our differences, kindness and compassion should rule everything around us.
“Although we will continue to fight for the liberation of all animals who suffer in these oppressive systems, we must take pause to acknowledge and celebrate the victories, and the people who helped achieve them.
The Hollywood A-lister saved the cow and her week-old calf from a slaughterhouse in Los Angeles (Image: Nation Earth)
“Shaun Monson, Amy Jean Davis, and the entire LA Animal Save community, have taken their pain of bearing witness and turned it into effective, diplomatic advocacy for the voiceless. As a result, Liberty and Indigo will never experience cruelty or the touch of a rough hand.”
Mr Baur’s video insists the visit to the slaughterhouse wasn’t planned despite Joaquin rousing speech while accepting the award for Best Actor at the Oscars.
The actor used his speech to talk about animal cruelty and said that the world needs to turn away from regular farming practices and angle itself to a more sustainable lifestyle.
He spoke in particular about the cruelty involved in removing a calf from its mother straight after its birth.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
