Butterball, a major turkey producer in the United States of America, is facing major backlash and a boycott ahead of Thanksgiving this year after undercover recordings by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on its social media profile have reappeared. The nearly 20-year-old video (taken in 2006) shows disturbing accounts of the turkeys being subjected to sexual violence and cruelty at the Butterball facility in Ozark, Arkansas. The resurfaced video accuses Butterball employees of sexually abusing turkeys – and is causing a stir online.
When PETA posted the graphic video on its social media account, it asked, “Was the ‘Thanksgiving turkey’ sitting in the middle of your dinner table a victim of sexual assault?” An anonymous PETA investigator claims to have been a witness how the facility’s workers sexually abused turkeys. According to the investigator, “the workers brag about the abuse.” The disturbing footage also shows staff kicking and stomping on turkeys, and others bragging about how he hit the bird so hard that its eyeballs popped out.
The PETA investigator documented several cruelties the turkeys endured between April and July 2006.
The investigator’s statement on PETA’s website said: “One frustrated worker kicked a bird in the head and another broke a bird’s neck so that its head hit her back.” He laughed it off. Another worker was shackling birds.”

Netizen’s opinion:

In the video in question, a person whose identity is unknown accuses Butterball workers of sexually abusing the animals that Butterball slaughtered and sold to the public. Commenters on the post were quick to express their concern for the turkeys. One of them asked the crucial question: “What can be done about it?”
One X user wrote: “Um. I’m not sure what to think about this. We have a butter ball in the freezer right now.” Another wrote, “I’ve never been so thankful I didn’t buy a butter ball this year.” Someone else wrote, “Someone please tell me that’s a lie. “Butterball is the only damn turkey we ever buy,” while another person wrote, “So now we need a new label like tuna… THIS turkey has NOT been abused… Omg!”
One X user commented, “I just bought a Butterball turkey today but I’m returning it,” while another warned, “Better not eat a Butterball turkey this year.”

What really happened?

In the July 13, 2006 statement, the PETA investigator reveals: “One worker grabbed a bird by the legs and jerked it toward another worker to annoy it – the second worker grabbed her and hit her, killing her Later, another worker grabbed the head of a live turkey that was poking through the chicken coop, turned the bird’s head around and handed it to another worker, who pulled on the head while the first worker gave her punched and kicked in the neck. They tried to behead her.”
In the graphic video, the undercover agent said a worker was allegedly “bucking” a tied turkey: “One worker forcibly threw birds into the ties and grabbed one by the neck, and another worker humped a bird, removing its legs and head.” had crammed himself into the bondage.”

Another eyewitness statement states that the workers sexually abused the bird: “One worker inserted his finger into a turkey’s vagina (cloaca) for ‘fun’ during a break when the line was stopped. Another worker said he could paralyze birds by hitting them in the neck in a certain way and demonstrated this on a bird.”
A Butterball spokesperson said in a statement to The Independent that it was “aware of a video from almost 20 years ago that is being re-shared on social media.” The spokesperson also added that this video is “out of date and in no way reflects animal welfare policies.” In the statement, the spokesperson also explained that the care and welfare of animals is central to their company and that they are committed to caring for their herds ethically and responsibly. The spokesperson went on to say that “maintaining the health and well-being of turkeys is an ongoing effort.”