After Kittle Kills Spider, PETA Sends 49ers Star a More Compassionate Solution

For Immediate Release:
May 14, 2026

Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382

Santa Clara, Calif. –

Following San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle’s dramatic social media post boasting about killing a spider, PETA is sending the NFL star a humane bug catcher—along with a note encouraging him to tackle any future arachnid encounters with compassion.

“Spiders are tiny compared to the average human, let alone an NFL player, and have a lot more to fear from us than we do from them, so there’s no need for unnecessary roughness,” says PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange. “PETA is urging George Kittle to drop the unsportsmanlike conduct and adopt a live and let live approach when it comes to uninvited arachnid guests.”

PETA notes that spiders play a crucial role in their ecosystems—and that the vast majority are completely harmless to humans. To gently encourage spiders in the home to move along, PETA recommends humane deterrents, such as peppermint oil. More tips for bug-proofing homes are available here.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that when it comes to the ability to feel pain, hunger, and thirst, a spider is a dog is a boy. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.