EMMY nominee Kate Winslet has come under massive criticism from Europe's largest veggie campaigning group, Viva!, after callously gloating in the American press about butchering a chicken. Winslet told media including ABC news, the Boston Globe and the Huffington Post that as the email came through telling her she had been nominated, she was “hacking up a chicken” at a cookery class in England. The actress has been previously been linked to campaigns against animal abuse, including speaking up against foie-gras production. Yet she told reporters: “Isn't that great – I just love that story”, as she recalled the gruesome incident. Viva! campaigns director, Justin Kerswell, says: “We are very shocked and disappointed at Kate Winslet for glorifying the death of animals, when she has spoken up for them before. “Compassion begins at home, and while she has talked about the pain and suffering of some animals she is making light of butchering others. “Her revelation that she was attending a butchery class as she learned of her nomination has spread the message to millions of people that hacking up an animal in a casual manner – while checking your emails – is somehow acceptable. “If she is truly an animal lover, we'd like to encourage her to think again about making light of something such as this– then telling the world about it.” The 2011 Primetime Emmy Awards will be presented on Sunday in Los Angeles. Winslet stars in the HBO mini-series Mildred Pierce, which has received 21 nominations. BM
