It’s-a Mean! PETA Asks Nintendo to Remove ‘Cow’s’ Nose Ring
For Immediate Release:
August 14, 2025
Contact:
Alex Payne 202-483-7382
Since her recent addition to the Mario Kart roster, “Cow” has taken the world by storm—but did Nintendo spin out on its own banana peel by including a brass ring in her nose? PETA thinks so! In a letter sent today to Nintendo, PETA asks the company to give its breakout bovine star a boost by redesigning her without the nose ring—a painful reminder of the cruelty cows endure in the meat and dairy industries.
In the letter, PETA points out that nose rings are used to forcibly control cows and bulls—and even drag the terrified animals to their deaths—by inflicting pain on one of the most sensitive parts of their bodies. In the dairy industry, some farmers try to break the maternal bond by running spiked rings through calves’ nostrils, causing their mothers intense pain whenever the calves try to nurse or seek comfort.
“This marvelous Moo Moo’s goofy grin has charmed gamers around the world, but her real-life counterparts who are tormented and violently yanked around by their noses have nothing to smile about,” says PETA Senior Vice President Joel Bartlett. “PETA is calling on Nintendo to send a blue shell at this sad nose ring design and let Cow drift toward greener pastures.”
peta2—part of PETA’s youth division—is also rallying its supporters to call on Nintendo for a cow-friendly glow-up.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat or abuse in any other way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. PETA’s free vegan starter kit is filled with tips to help anyone looking to make the switch. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
PETA’s letter to Nintendo follows.
August 14, 2025
Dear Mr. Furukawa:
Greetings! I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). PETA entities have more than 10 million members and supporters globally. We herd there’s a new star in Mario Kart World: Cow! She is already winning hearts everywhere—including ours. But one detail has us hitting the brakes: The brass ring in Cow’s nose. Would you please show empathy towards bovines and remove the nose ring? Here’s why this is so important:
Nose rings are used by the meat and dairy industries to exploit, control, and even drag animals to their deaths. These brass rings are crudely stabbed through the sensitive septum of cows and bulls, which can cause lasting pain and discomfort. The dairy industry will also clip spiked nose rings on baby cows so that the comforting act of nursing from their mother causes her pain and the baby is rejected and kicked away. To control bulls, a chain might be fastened from the nose ring to the bull’s horn for even more pain-driven control.
The brass ring in Cow’s nose glosses over real world violence and cruelty to animals. That’s why we’re asking you to give this beloved bovine a small but meaningful upgrade: Remove the nose ring and let Cow race freely—without any painful reminders of the industries that treat animals like profit-making machines.
Every animal is someone. So leave the rings to Sonic and let Cow breathe free!
Sincerely,
Joel Bartlett
Senior Vice President of Marketing Engagement
