Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler Calls For Foie Gras Boycott
He writes impassioned letter to Fortnum & Mason's
Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler has urged his fans to boycott Fortnum & Mason’s until they remove foie gras from their shelves.
The 63-year-old legend, who is a staunch vegan, was left outraged after animal rights group PETA showed him undercover footage taken at foie gras farms that supply the posh London store.
In the letter to Fortnum’s boss Ewan Venters, Geezer wrote: “I've seen some outrageous things in my time, but watching those poor birds suffer simply so that their diseased livers can be sold on your shop floor is horrific!”
Labelling foie gras “torture in a tin”, his impassioned letter continued: “Ducks and geese used in foie gras production endure a life of cruelty, pain and suffering. Pipes are shoved down their throats several times a day in order to force huge amounts of grain into their stomachs.”
He concluded: “I have been a musician for most of my life, and I'm not afraid to make some noise, especially when it comes to issues of cruelty to animals.
“I'll therefore be urging my family, friends and fans to stay away from Fortnum’s and urge them (and everyone else) to buy their Christmas hampers elsewhere until you stop selling that vile foie gras.”
Geezer last featured in a poster advertising campaign for PETA in 2009 under the slogan: “I’m Geezer Butler, and I’m a vegan.”
Black Sabbath’s 19th studio album - ‘13’ - is released this June.