Casey Affleck has teamed up with PETA to speak out against animal cruelty.
The ‘Manchester by the Sea’ star, who is nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars on Sunday (26.02.17), appears in a disturbing new video for the animal welfare organisation, urging people to boycott circuses due to their alleged mistreatment of lions and tigers.
In the short montage, the 41-year-old actor claims: "This industry tears families apart and subjects individuals to a life of torment and deprivation. (Trainers) drag the big cats around by heavy chains or ropes around their necks and hit them with sticks, poles, and whips. They beat them mercilessly and bully them into jumping through hoops."
The video includes footage of distressed and trembling animals being transported in caged carts.
PETA, which stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, also claims many circuses still "exploit big cats."
Animal rights are clearly an issue close to Casey’s heart as he also teamed up with PETA last year to speak out against the mistreatment of bears at roadside zoos.
The outspoken vegan, who has been dedicated to eating a plant-based diet for almost 20 years, also previously took aim at the meat industry, calling meat "poison" that is "proven to contribute to heart disease and cancer."