Radio City Music Hall: No, No, No, the Camel’s Got to Go!
Animals Pay the Price for Holiday Shows
A camel is tied to a wall among a collection of backstage clutter. A reindeer is hauled from one crowded event to the next. Donkeys and sheep stand for hours as noisy strangers stream by for photos. Horses pull heavy loads through busy streets slick with ice and slush.
For animals used in holiday attractions, the season can be a time of confinement, stress, endless handling, and exploitation. Every year, New York City’s Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall dazzles audiences with high-kicking Rockettes, elaborate sets, and cutting-edge production. Yet one element is stuck in the past: the use of live animals. Camels, sheep, and donkeys are still brought onstage as props, despite the growing public consensus that animals belong in their own habitats and shouldn’t be subjected to bright lights or backstage chaos, which can cause confusion and stress.
PETA is pushing for Radio City to modernize. Our supporters hoisted giant puppets of sheep, camels, and donkeys with speech bubbles like “I Don’t Want to Be in Your Damn Show!” and our “elves” dumped coal outside the theater. Alec Baldwin turned up the heat in a PETA video calling on the venue to retire its animal acts, and at a Christmas-in-July protest, PETA Santas urged the venue to make the “nice list” by going animal-free.
“Animals are not actors or props. It’s time for a change.”
– Alec Baldwin
PETA bought stock in Madison Square Garden Entertainment, Radio City’s parent company, and will use that platform to educate decisionmakers and shareholders. We’ve written letters to corporate leaders and executives, and appealed to the Spectacular’s director, even offering them a human “camel” to replace the real ones.
Animal Exploitation Wrapped in Tinsel
Radio City isn’t alone. Around the world, animals are being used in live Nativities, reindeer exhibits, and holiday festivals as well as for horse-drawn carriage rides, all in the name of seasonal entertainment.
Some live Nativities have had disturbing consequences. Animals used in these displays have been mistreated by members of the public, while others have become so frightened that they’ve bolted into traffic. One US medical center abandoned its live-animal Nativity event after a man was caught on video punching a camel.
Reindeer Don’t Belong in Parking Lots
To many people, reindeer symbolize Christmas. To the reindeer displayed at seasonal events, the holidays mean confinement, noise, and a never-ending parade of strangers. These sensitive animals are adapted to roaming vast distances through the tundra, not standing for hours in crowded shopping centers and parking lots while being photographed and groped and no doubt worrying about what lies ahead.
The risks extend beyond species. Reindeer can carry diseases and parasites transmissible to humans, including rabies, Lyme disease, ringworm, leptospirosis, and others. After hearing from PETA supporters about these concerns, Payette, Idaho’s Chamber of Commerce canceled its plans to host a live reindeer event.
No Holiday Joyride for Horses
Horse-drawn carriage rides may look quaint, but for horses they mean hours of working amid traffic, noise, crowds, and unpredictable winter weather, placing horses in stressful and dangerous situations. During one Missouri holiday festival, a horse was harnessed to a carriage so overloaded that he was unable to pull it up a hill. Fortunately, many people are choosing kind alternatives. Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian opted for a horse-free pedicab ride in New York City, showing that festive outings don’t have to come at animals’ expense.
A Kind Future Is Taking Shape
The good news? More organizations are recognizing that holiday traditions must evolve. After hearing from PETA UK, the Royal Ballet and Opera ended its use of live animals in productions. LaplandUK followed suit. In Germany, the Hofmeister Christmas Circus dropped animal acts after discussions with PETA Germany. And a Christmas market in Dresden replaced its live Nativity animals with realistic figures.
Each victory sends a message: Holiday magic doesn’t disappear when animals are removed; the celebrations simply become compassionate.
Be the reason an animal gets a break this holiday season. If your local church, school, town, or business is planning a live Nativity scene, reindeer display, or other animal-based attraction, please weigh in with facts and an appeal. A single e-mail, phone call, or conversation can persuade organizers to choose humane options instead. And please urge Radio City Music Hall to leave animals out of future shows.
