Actor Surya in Singam 3 | YouTube
CHENNAI: PETA has offered “wholehearted apology” to Tamil film actor Suriya, days after he served legal notice on the animal rights advocacy group for its claim that he was supporting Jallikattu only to promote his upcoming movie “S3”, which has been rechristened to “C3”.
CEO of The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals Poorva Joshipura, through the actor’s advocate R Vijayanand, offered “wholehearted apology” for implying that his pro-Jallikattu comments might be related to the planned release of his upcoming movie.
“We received a copy of the legal notice sent to us through the law firm you engaged. If what you are now saying is correct, please consider this a wholehearted apology for implying that your public pro-Jallikattu comments might be related to the planned release of your upcoming film,” she said in the letter.
“We support the promotion of a good film but not the promotion of cruelty to any living being, or spectacle that put animals or humans in harm’s way and we thought you would feel the same way,” Joshipura said. Sharing a link to a video on cruelties to animals taken by officials of Animal Welfare Board of India at Jallikattu events, she said, “In Singam film, you are a honest, dutiful police officer. I hope the role of this character could help you appreciate why it is so important for us to ensure the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 is honoured and upheld.”
Suriya recently issued the legal notice to PETA for its claim that the actor was supporting Jallikattu to promote his upcoming movie, saying it caused “mental stress” to him and asked the NGO to apologise or face legal proceedings.
In the notice dated January 20, the actor’s advocate Vijayanand said Suriya had reiterated his commitment and support for the bull-taming sport on several occasions in the past and there was no need for him to indulge in “cheap publicity.”
Source: The New Indian Express