Faye Winter has spoken out against the use of marine animals for entertainment in a unique protest in central London (Picture: Peta)
Love Island star Faye Winter has taken part in a public protest against ‘cruel’ marine parks that use animals for entertainment.
The reality icon, 27, teamed up with animal rights group Peta to make a statement in London’s Picadilly Circus, where she was body painted to look like an orca whale and confined to a small bathtub.
Faye and the organisers at Peta say they are performing the stunt to draw attention to marine parks holding orcas and other intelligent sea animals such as dolphins in tanks that, ‘to them, are the size of a bathtub.’
The star was fully painted for the stunt, wearing just nipple protectors and underwear despite the November chill as she pleaded for people to ‘never, ever’ attend marine parks that use marine animals for entertainment.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk following the public protest, Faye said: ‘I’m asking people to consider what it would be like to spend their entire life in a space the size of a bathtub – because that’s the reality for the orcas imprisoned in cramped tanks at marine parks like Loro Parque in Tenerife.
‘They don’t ever get to swim freely in the ocean or do anything that’s natural or important to them.
‘Watching orcas and other dolphins swim in endless circles or perform tacky tricks for tourists isn’t entertainment – it’s cruelty.
The star rose to prominence in the 2021 series of Love Island, where she met partner Teddy Soares (Picture: Getty Images)
‘I hope that this action encourages people to reflect on how wrong it is to treat animals in this way – and that they join me in pledging never, ever, to buy tickets to marine abusement parks.’
The new stunt comes after Peta sensationally called for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly to step down from the show.
In an open letter sent to the duo ahead of the 2022 series kicking off, the charity accused the presenters of being ‘complicit in animal cruelty’ as the ITV competition continues to use live animals in its Bushtucker trials.
They wrote: ‘The longer you associate yourselves with this show, the more you send the message to viewers that you think animal abuse is not only acceptable but entertaining. Leaving I’m A Celebrity would signal to the show’s producers that people aren’t going to stand for senseless cruelty to animals anymore and that it’s time to change.’
The new stunt comes after Peta called on Ant and Dec to step down from I’m A Celebrity, accusing them of being ‘complicit in animal cruelty’ (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)
Ant and Dec did not step down from the show, and the 2022 series is currently in full swing, with live animals from cockroaches to frog and rats being used in the trial.
Responding to Peta’s letter at the time, an ITV rep told Metro.co.uk: ‘We are always fully transparent about our protocols and we have a very strict environmental plan in place on the show.
‘As a production, we comply with all regional and national laws concerning the use of insects, animals and reptiles.
‘Welfare and safety is always the primary priority on any of our programmes, and at any Bushtucker trial that features animals, we have qualified and experienced animal handlers on site at all times. We inform the RSPCA NSW of all of our activities on the show and they have an open invitation to attend the site at any time.
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‘We cannot stress enough that we have rigorous protocols in place to ensure that animals are handled safely at all times, before, during and after any filming has taken place, in compliance with all regional and national laws.’
Metro.co.uk has reached out to Loro Parque Tenerife for comment
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‘It isn’t entertainment – it’s cruelty.’
