Butterball is facing intense backlash and calls for a boycott just days before Thanksgiving after disturbing footage of poultry workers allegedly abusing turkeys resurfaced on social media. The video, first filmed in 2006 during an undercover investigation, shows workers at a plant in Ozark, Arkansas, allegedly torturing live turkeys, including stomping on their heads and engaging in sexual abuse.
The footage, shared by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), quickly went viral, triggering widespread outrage. In the graphic video, workers are seen bashing birds against steel cages, stomping on their heads, and allegedly engaging in other abusive behavior, including sexual acts. PETA’s undercover investigator described instances where workers violently harmed the birds, including one worker allegedly crushing a turkey’s skull and laughing as blood splattered.
The video sparked immediate calls for a boycott of the popular turkey brand, with social media users expressing their disgust. “Boycott Butterball,” one user posted on X. Another user commented, “Dinner is f–king canceled.”
In response to the uproar, a Butterball spokesperson emphasized that the footage was filmed nearly 20 years ago, long before the company became privately owned and achieved certification through American Humane. “Animal care and well-being is central to who we are as a company,” the spokesperson said, noting that Butterball is the only turkey company in the U.S. to be "American Humane certified."
Despite the company's efforts to distance itself from the past footage, the renewed controversy has ignited heated debates just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.