The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has beef with video game company Nintendo over the depiction of one of the characters in “Mario Kart World.”
The issue is over the scooter-riding cow character because the bovine wears a nose ring. The animal rights organization said the golden ring is not a style choice, but a “cruel tool used to control and hurt cows in the meat and dairy industries, which causes lasting pain and discomfort.”
In a letter to Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa, PETA explained that nose rings are forcibly pierced through one of the most sensitive parts of a cow’s body and urged the company to remove it from the video game character.
“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,” PETA’s senior vice president of marketing engagement Joel Bartlett wrote. “Every animal is someone. So leave the rings to Sonic and let Cow breathe free!”
“Mario Kart World” was released in June exclusively on the new Nintendo Switch 2 game console. Since its launch, the cow has become the game’s breakout star, with videos on social media showcasing the racer’s popularity.
Nintendo of America did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
