Zac Efron has been reprimanded by PETA after filming an ad with a bear who spent his life in captivity: ‘This is hypocritical’
Zac Efron has received backlash from PETA after starring in a few commercials with a captive bear in collaboration with Kodiak Cakes.
The brand is known for having a bear on the front of its products, and in short commercials, a real bear is seen alongside the 34-year-old High School Musical alum.
Proceeds from the actor’s promotion of the company’s Keep It Wild merchandise go to the Vital Ground Foundation to help bears and other wildlife. TMZ. However, PETA calls the action ‘hypocritical’.
Backlash: Zac Efron, 34, gets backlash from PETA after filming ad with captive bear
According to TMZPETA issued a statement following the airing of ads to condemn the use of the 27-year-old captive bear tank.
The bear was reportedly taken from his breeder when he was barely six weeks old, and even appeared in the series, Man Vs. bear.
“It is hypocrisy to exploit one animal to potentially help another,” the statement said. ‘No true conservation group would force captive animals to do tricks for the camera to raise awareness of their wild counterparts.’
In a short ad, Zac can be seen making Kodiak pancakes while talking to a bear in the woods. Tank reacts humorously to the actor and at the end, Bear is given a jumbo plate of pancakes.
Ad: The short ad was to promote and showcase Kodiak Cakes, in which the actor partnered with the brand to raise funds for a wildlife charity.
“Excited to announce that I have joined @kodiakcaskes Board of Directors as Chief Brand Officer,” Zac wrote in the caption sharing the video ad on his Instagram page.
‘I love this brand, their products and above all their mission. I believe that together we can make a big impact,’ the Baywatch star said.
In another recent post uploaded on his main page, the talented actor was seen wearing Keep It Wild merchandise from Kodiak Cakes. All profits and proceeds, he explained, go to ‘preserving grizzly bears and wildlife habitats.’
Collaboration: Profits from Kodiak Cake Keep It Wild merchandise go to help bear and wildlife habitat, in what PETA called a ‘hypocritical’ action.
Teamwork: Earlier in June, Zac announced that he was partnering with the brand as Chief Brand Officer
PETA Foundation’s Director of Captive Animal Welfare Debbie Metzler Didn’t Think Too Much About Collaboration, Reported TMZ.
How wrong is it to use captive bears to promote ‘keep the bears wild’? He asked.
The nonprofit has not only asked Zac to question whether he should continue partnering with the brand, but also to use a CGI bear instead of a captive animal, or even for the Kodiak cake. That ads should be completely removed.
The Greatest Showman actor has not spoken to PETA after the nonprofit’s explosion, nor has Kodiak Keck.
Asked to end: PETA asked to remove commercials or replace Tank Bear with CGI Bear
No public statement: After PETA statement, the High School Musical alum has yet to say anything
Throwback: Zac recently shared a post on his Instagram page taking a step back to the roots of Disney’s High School Musical
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