Elon Musk has criticized PETA following the resurfacing of a controversial article by the animal rights organization, which suggested a link between consuming dairy and racism.
What Happened: On Friday, Musk targeted People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, after an old article, originally published in 2017 and reposted by the organization’s Twitter, now X, account in 2018, regained attention on the platform.
The article, titled, “Why Cow’s Milk Is the Perfect Drink for Supremacists,” stated that cow’s milk had long been used as a symbol by white supremacists.
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It further contended, citing a New York Times article, that due to a genetic mutation among Europeans, white individuals were more likely to digest lactose, which white nationalists were twisting into an excuse to promote their ideology.
However, it was pointed out that the same genetic mutation occurs in black African cattle farmers.
In the article, PETA also criticized the dairy industry for allegedly funding misleading ad campaigns to promote cow’s milk despite medical studies associating it with health risks, including heart disease and certain cancers.
Netizens quickly responded to the resurfaced article with mockery and disbelief. Some questioned the legitimacy of PETA’s statements, while others expressed their concerns about the organization using racial slurs to convey its message.
Musk, known for his active presence on social media, also jumped into the conversation and said, “They have been saying that since 2018. According to PETA, having a bowl of cereal means you’re racist. Beyond parody.”
Why It’s Important: Musk and PETA have long been at loggerheads with each other. The tech billionaire was previously bashed by the animal rights group for conducting tests on monkeys and pigs.
Earlier this year, Ingrid Newkirk, the co-founder of PETA, said that she updated her will to gift Musk a fragment of her heart, as she believes he lacks one, reported Business Insider.
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