Vegan actor Joaquin Phoenix praised the Critics Choice Awards (CCA) for serving a plant-based menu at the 25th annual event this weekend.
The CCA announced last week that it would be serving an all-vegan menu, making it the second so far this season to do so – following the Golden Globes. The upcoming Screen Actors Guild Awards on January 19 will also serve only plant-based dishes.
The Joker star, who scooped the gong for Best Actor, has been credited with encouraging the Golden Globes to ditch animal products.
‘Thanks for going plant-based’
“First I would like to thank the awards for going plant-based and trying to offset our carbon footprint. I think that’s really an amazing message. I deeply appreciate that,” Phoenix said in his speech.
“I need to thank my mom. Mom, you’ve always been my greatest inspiration, and even when self-pity led me astray, you never gave up on me, and always believed in me, and I’m deeply appreciative of your support.
“Scott Silver and Todd Phillips, you checked us. You took a comic book character and used it to talk about childhood trauma, gun violence, isolation, and mental health. And instead of inciting violence, you invited the audience in, to see what it feels like, when you’re one of the forgotten and I deeply appreciate that. Thank you all.”
Vegan awards
Speaking as he accepted his Golden Globe for Best Actor earlier this month, Phoenix again thanked event organizer, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, for serving all plants.
He said: “First I’d like to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press for recognizing and acknowledging the link between animal agriculture and climate change. It was a very bold move, making tonight plant-based, and it really sends a powerful message.
“Together hopefully we can be unified, and hopefully make some changes. It’s great to vote, but sometimes we have to take that responsibility on ourselves and make changes and sacrifices in our own lives, and I hope that we can do that. We don’t have to take private jets to Palm Springs. I’ll try to do better and I hope you will too.”