The petition demands that CNN cancel Bourdain’s “animal slaughter debauchery show” because it “glorifies and wallows” in the suffering of animals. The petition’s originator, Laura Wade, says she wrote numerous letters to CNN, asking the network to cancel Bourdain’s show after accidentally coming across its “debauched depiction of the killings of several animals” while otherwise innocently channel-surfing. Wade, who is apparently not a fan of Bourdain’s “hardcore, hard-drinking, I’m-too-badass-to-care-about-feelings persona,” ends the petition with the following call to action:
Please tell CNN and Anthony Bourdain that we will no longer be subjected to his Grand Guignol of gore, violence, cruelty and suffering of animals. By signing my petition, you will send a message to heartless executives that animal slaughter and the resulting agony must never be glorified or used as entertainment. Thank you for all who have a heart of human decency; your signature is much appreciated.
Wade’s petition has almost reached its goal of 18,000 signatures, though we’re not entirely certain what will happen once that final supporter co-signs. Perhaps Bourdain will have to do some kind of meat offsetting, or eat a Boca burger for every third or fourth meal. Or maybe, because Bourdain is essentially documenting the preparation of food—including meat—in other cultures and not pushing its consumption on them like some kind of meat missionary, CNN will just let this one slide.
