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How Much Does Hollywood Care about Animal Rights?

Joaquin Phoenix won Best Actor accolades at the Oscars and Golden Globes earlier this year, yet he is arguably just as proud of an entirely different type of awards season accomplishment.

Phoenix, a lifelong vegan who so avidly supports animal rights that he refuses to wear leather in any performance, persuaded the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to make the Golden Globes an all-vegan event -- despite the fact that they had already prepared an omnivorous menu for the awards ceremony.

Actor and animal rights activist Joaquin Phoenix convinced the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to serve an all-vegan menu at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Actor and animal rights activist Joaquin Phoenix convinced the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to serve an all-vegan menu at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.

The updated offerings included golden beet soup, king oyster mushrooms, wild-mushroom risotto, Brussels sprouts, globe carrots, and pea tendrils. When he picked up his Golden Globe for "Joker," Phoenix said the association had undertaken a "very bold move making tonight plant-based. It really sends a powerful message."

It was so powerful, in fact, that the Critics' Choice Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards -- both of which named Phoenix as Best Actor winner, as well -- followed suit, offering their attendees a completely vegan menu.

The Joaquin Phoenix enigma:

  • Phoenix shocked many when he "retired" from acting in 2008 to pursue a rap career; it turned out that he was promoting the movie "I'm Still Here."

  • Johnny Cash picked Phoenix to play him in "Walk the Line," despite being six inches (15.2 cm) taller than the actor.

  • To portray a firefighter in the movie "Ladder 49," Phoenix worked in a real fire department for a month.

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    • Actor and animal rights activist Joaquin Phoenix convinced the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to serve an all-vegan menu at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
      Actor and animal rights activist Joaquin Phoenix convinced the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to serve an all-vegan menu at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.