We’ve loved Ryan Gosling from the moment we first laid eyes
on him in The Notebook, but what you may
not know is that he’s also a huge animal rights advocate. From rocking vegan
leather and adopting a dog to urging major corporations to improve farmed
animal welfare, Ryan is a die-hard animal lover.
So, we’re pretty sure this heartthrob is going to be the
next big vegan celeb. Here’s our proof:
1. He wore a vegan
leather jacket in Blade Runner.
In Ryan’s latest movie, Blade
Runner 2049, he rocks
a vegan leather jacket. Designed by Renée April, the jacket is made from laminated cotton. Leather
is incredibly
unsustainable and cruel, so the fact that Ryan opted for a vegan
alternative is totally dreamy.
2. He urged Costco to
go cage-free.
In 2015 Ryan wrote to
Costco’s CEO, urging the company to stop buying eggs from suppliers that use
battery cages. He wrote: “So many corporations are meeting public demand for
more humane products and transparency in the food chain. I sincerely hope that
Costco will set plans now to go completely cage-free for its eggs.
3. He asked KFC and
McDonald’s to be kinder to chickens.
In 2003 and 2010 Ryan teamed up with animal rights group
PETA to urge
KFC and McDonald’s
to consider less cruel ways of raising and slaughtering their chickens. In his
letter to KFC he wrote, “As an advocate for the humane treatment of animals, I
am writing to ask that you take steps to implement basic animal welfare standards
to ensure that these animals are afforded a more humane and less painful
existence.
4. He adopted his dog,
George.
In 2002 Ryan adopted George from a Los Angeles animal shelter.
The two were inseparable, as the actor made clear in an interview with The
Independent in January 2013: “George is way more interesting
than I am. I’d much rather talk about him. I wanted George here today, you know,
doing interviews with me. Normally, I take him everywhere, I have special
paperwork so he can travel with me wherever I go. Can we just talk about
George?”
Unfortunately, last year George passed away at the age of 17.
But Ryan keeps his pal close
to his heart by wearing George’s tag around his neck.
5. He voiced his
concern for the stray cats and mice at Disneyland.
In a 2011 interview with Conan O’Brien, Ryan spoke about his
concern for the infamous stray cats at Disneyland, who apparently descend on
the park to kill mice and rats after the visitors leave. The animal-loving
actor was worried
about the mice, especially considering that Disney has built its
family-friendly empire around Mickey Mouse.
6. He wrote a letter
asking the National Milk Producers Federation to ban dehorning.
In 2013 Ryan wrote a letter urging the National Milk Producers Federation to stop the cruel practice of dehorning—that is, burning or sawing off a cow’s horns. Painful and unnecessary, dehorning is banned in a few states.
7. He loves vegan
food.
While the jury is still out on whether he’s a full-time
vegan, one thing is for sure: Ryan loves vegan food. He’s been
spotted at numerous vegan restaurants in LA, including Flore Vegan Cuisine
in Silver Lake.
8. He wrote an op-ed
asking Canada’s National Farm Animal Care Council to ban gestation crates.
In one of his most aggressive animal rights campaigns to
date, Ryan penned an op-ed in The Globe and Mail urging the National
Farm Animal Care Council to ban cruel gestation crates for mother pigs. Ryan
wrote: “Pigs in tiny crates suffer beyond anything most of us can easily
imagine. They are unable even to turn around for weeks at a time, so that their
muscles and bones deteriorate.
9. He signed Mercy
For Animals’ letter urging Walmart to ban gestation crates.
In 2012 Ryan
signed MFA’s letter urging Walmart to stop buying pork from suppliers that
use cruel gestation crates. The letter was also signed by Kristen Bell, Zooey Deschanel, Emily
Deschanel, Tom Morello, Kim Basinger, David Boreanaz, Ed Begley Jr., John
Francis Daley, James Cromwell, Steve-O, and Loretta Swit. It stated: “We
implore you to help end the needless suffering of these animals by ending the
sale of pork from producers who confine pigs in cages so small they can’t even
turn around for nearly their entire lives.” Shortly after the letter was
published, Walmart announced a sweeping animal welfare policy.
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Forget about Ryan Gosling’s looks; it’s his compassion for
all animals that has us swooning.
Want to join Ryan in helping create a kinder world for
animals? Visit our Action
Center and learn how you can fight for farmed animals.