Hobbit Farm Animal Cruelty Denied Again By Peter Jackson

Wellington, New Zealand – Peter Jackson has once again denied any Hobbit farm animal cruelty during the filming of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. As previously reported by The Inquisitr, four animal wranglers who were dismissed from the film made the accusations, claiming that 27 animals died due to squalor conditions near dangerous bluffs, sink holes, and other “death traps.” As the Wednesday premiere of The Hobbit film neared, Peter Jackson answered some questions about the animal cruelty allegations.

Peter Jackson had previously released this statement:

“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.”

Organizations like PETA have taken up the gauntlet, holding to their accusations that the film company put animals in danger. As previously reported, the American Humane Association oversaw animal welfare during the shooting and did not report any mistreatment.

“Absolutely none; no mistreatment, no abuse”, Peter Jackson said during a news conference in Wellington, New Zealand hours before Wednesday’s premiere. According to Deadline Hollywood, the Hobbit director also described the animal rights activist group PETA as “pretty pathetic” for seeking publicity for their cause at the Hobbit movie premiere.

When asked if the negative publicity caused by the animal cruelty allegations had dampened the experience of making the film, Peter Jackson said it had not: “At the end of the day we’ve made a movie we’re extremely proud of. So many people have worked for so long, it will take a bit more than that to spoil the event”.

Will the Hobbit farm animal cruelty allegations by PETA make you not want to see the movie?