comScore
  1. Mediaite
  2. Gossip Cop
  3. Geekosystem
  4. Styleite
  5. SportsGrid
  6. The Mary Sue
  7. The Jane Dough
  8. The Braiser

Busting bad dish!

Hot Topics Jennifer Lawrence Kim Kardashian Rihanna Robert Pattinson Beyonce Justin Bieber Kristen Stewart

Peter Jackson Denies 27 Animals Died From Mistreatment During Hobbit Filming

3:42 pm, November 19th, 2012

(GettyImages.com)

Peter Jackson and the producers of the upcoming Hobbit trilogy are denying a report that claims nearly 30 animals died from mistreatment during production of the highly-anticipated movies.

On Monday, the Associated Press reported that 27 animals died due to unsafe conditions on a New Zealand farm where they were kept while not on set in 2010 and 2011.

RELATED – Watch: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Trailer

The story quotes several animal handlers who claim their complaints about the conditions went unaddressed.

A spokesperson for Jackson confirmed to the AP that some horses, goats, chickens and one sheep did, in fact, die on the farm — but the director and his producers are now refuting the severity of the allegations, including the number of deaths.

FULL STATEMENT BELOW

“The producers completely reject the accusations that twenty seven animals died due to mistreatment during the making of the films,” a statement reads.

It continues, “Extraordinary measures were taken to make sure that animals were not used during action sequences or any other sequence that might create undue stress for the animals involved.”

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is slated to hit theaters next month.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

STATEMENT FROM PETER JACKSON & THE HOBBIT PRODUCERS

The producers of The Hobbit take the welfare of all animals very seriously and have always pursued the highest standard of care for animals in their charge. Any incidents that occurred that were brought to their attention as regards to this care were immediately investigated and appropriate action taken. This includes hundreds of thousands of dollars that were spent on upgrading housing and stable facilities in early 2011.

The producers completely reject the accusations that twenty seven animals died due to mistreatment during the making of the films. Extraordinary measures were taken to make sure that animals were not used during action sequences or any other sequence that might create undue stress for the animals involved. Over fifty five per cent of all shots using animals in The Hobbit are in fact computer generated; this includes horses, ponies, rabbits, hedgehogs, birds, deer, elk, mice, wild boars, and wolves.

The American Humane Association (AHA) was on hand to monitor all use of animals by the production. No animals died or were harmed on set during filming.

We regret that some of these accusations by wranglers who were dismissed from the film over a year ago are only now being brought to our attention. We are currently investigating these new allegations and are attempting to speak with all parties involved to establish the truth.

You might like:


  • Martina

    You did not do a thing for them you greedy money hungry smucks. Animals are nothing to you compare to the money you see first. Thanks for the news GP, I am not going to see this movie, no matter what, neither my family. Rot in hell you killers!

  • Liz2008

    Wasn’t just one animal dead enough for them to realize that many more could die, even if the animals weren’t on set. If they died on the farm, I shudder to think how many more could’ve died on set.

  • Martina

    Well, the sad thing is that the truth is deeply buried!

  • Tom Feldpausch

    and the funny thing is, I bet PETA backs Planned Parenthood, the abortion capital of the world…

  • Martina

    I got you, but forget PETA. This is about someone’s power over animals. It’s about them.

  • Jamie T

    It is quite possible that the trainers/handlers kept things hidden from the film crews.

  • Bob Bighole

    How many of you fucks ate meat today while/before/after reading this story? Hypocrites

  • Amandanoa

    They did all they could to make sure the animals were well cared for. In NZ we have a very active Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – they have come out and said that they are happy with how the animals were treated – believe me if there were any problems they would act. The SPCA are upset that the accusers are only speaking up now and not when the alleged abuse happened and when something could have been done – this is a very definite sign that the accusations are unfounded and come from bitterness due to the accusers possibly being those who were fired due to negligence in their work.

    Don’t be gullible and fall into the trap these spineless people have set – if they really thought there was something wrong with the way the animals were being treated they would have reported it to the SPCA at the time – they are bitter and twisted and only out for publicity on the shirt tails of a much anticipated film.

    Yes some animals died but not due to mistreatment – animals die all the time – even pampered ones…. and if you think that anyone in this country could get away with ill treating animals just to make money from them you are sorely mistaken – just ask any visiting circus.

  • Amandanoa

    Animals die on farms all the time. Looking at the number of animals used the law of averages says some are going to die – even pampered pets die – hey even people die.

  • Amandanoa

    Do you have pets? do they live forever? – heaven forbid if you owned an animal that died.

  • Guest

    I wonder how many of these animal activists are for animal euthinization but are against assisted suicide.

  • http://www.facebook.com/nicholas.lynch.5 Nicholas Lynch

    I wonder how many of these animal activists are for animal euthinization but are against assisted suicide. Just saying…

  • Liz2008

    I understand animals die on farms all the time. Now animals that die on a farm where they are put when they are not on set is a different thing.

  • Amandanoa

    A farm is a farm – these animals were offered from surrounding farms – the call went out for animals as it did for extras on the films. The owners were never far away from the animals and the ones who have been asked have been very happy with the care that the animals received. This is just a bunch of activists who think they’ve found the next way to get free publicity for their cause – there are no foundations for this complaint.

  • Mir

    This is not about eating meat. This is about abusing animals.
    Animals are bred for meat, they die from natural causes – those are normal things. Getting an animal killed because of “mistreatment and unsafe conditions during production” is not normal. Of course, accidents happen, but such a high number of deaths (if it’s true, of course) doesn’t look an accident to me.

  • Irish Girl

    I don’t believe for an instant that animals that large and in those numbers could be mistreated and abused to death without something having been said and done during filming. And considering that there was no similar outcry during the filming of LOTR, I have a hard time believing that suddenly the filmmakers went psychotic or something. Nor would Peter Jackson tolerate such behavior with one animal, let alone 27. This is just nonsense.

  • http://twilightirruption.blogspot.com/ abbeysbooks

    Are they getting so frantic that they make up this fantastic stuff. I cannot believe it either.

  • shutuphorsefucker

    Jesus go fuck a horse you faggot. Do you seriously want to fuck animals so bad you believe every little PETA esque lie you hear? Fucking faaaagggggot. SO tired of all this hate on the hobbit. Why do people wish to see good things fail?

  • youallfuckhorses

    All you peta fags just..stfu. You dumb cunts will believe anything, as long as it makes humans look abusive towards animals. Fucking godamn morons. Go live in the fucking woods and fuck horses if you care so much, faggots.

Abrams Media Network click here for advertising opportunities
X