Disney Cancels Development of Live-Action Rodeo Film
An Entertainment Abuses Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM IDA In Defense of Animals / SHARK SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness
August 2021

We have been spared a film that would have glorified this inherently violent industry, which encourages adults and children to harm animals for fun and inflicts lethal injuries on bulls for entertainment.

steer roping
Steer roping...

In May we asked you to join us in calling on Disney to cancel production on a live-action film based on the book Aloha Rodeo, which follows three Hawaiian cowboys who in 1908 traveled to Wyoming to compete in a steer roping competition at what is still one of the most brutal and deadly rodeos in the world. Your response was overwhelming, and we are thrilled to announce that Disney has confirmed to us that this project has been canceled.

The activity at the center of Aloha Rodeo is steer roping. This event can result in serious injuries and deaths. In fact, it’s considered so cruel and dangerous that it's been banned in several states.

In canceling production on this film, Disney has made the right decision. As a result, we have been spared a film that would have glorified this inherently violent industry, which encourages adults and children to harm animals for fun and inflicts lethal injuries on bulls for entertainment.

As many of us realize, Disney has an enormous influence over our culture, and it has the potential to do immense good. It would be impossible to overstate the positive impact for animals that films such as Bambi and Black Beauty have had on our society. This decision to cancel the Aloha Rodeo project is another milestone in Disney’s history of animal advocacy.

Over 13,000 compassionate In Defense of Animals supporters signed our alert to Disney… and it worked! We are very grateful for your actions on behalf of the steers and horses who would have suffered tremendous cruelty to make this film and the animals who would have been harmed for decades longer as a result of the legacy of the film.

FROM SHARK SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness

Back in February, when we heard that Disney+ was moving forward with a movie glorifying cruel rodeos, we formed a coalition, released a video, created a petition and reached out to Disney to stop it. We are very pleased to announced that that effort has been a success, and Disney+ has cancelled the project!

rodeo movie

The movie, Aloha Rodeo, would have glorified steer roping and the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD) which has long held the dubious honor of being the world’s most cruel and deadly rodeo. In fact, last week a horse was seriously injured and most likely killed at the CFD rodeo. That story is next.

We want to thank all of our coalition partners and all of you who signed the petition and took action!

Coalition members:

  • Last Chance for Animals
  • Humane Farming Association
  • Anti Rodeo Action NZ
  • Fish Feel
  • The Animal Cruelty Exposure Fund
  • NYCLASS
  • United Poultry Concerns
  • The Animals Voice Magazine
  • Animal Alliance of Canada
  • The League of Humane Voters-FL
  • In Defense of Animals
  • Peggy Larson, DVM, MS, JD
  • Stevan Harnad, PhD
  • Unparalleled Suffering 

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