A TikTok video of a live turkey standing next to an oven while one of its own species is cooked inside has gone viral, sparking huge backlash and debate.
With Thanksgiving having taken place in America yesterday, many families across the country will have served up a turkey-filled feast.
On TikTok, a video posted by @our10acres went viral, showing a live turkey in the kitchen, next to an oven where a turkey was being cooked.
The woman filming can be heard saying, “What you doing, bub?” as the turkey looks into the oven at the roasted bird.
She continued: “It’s okay, you don’t know him.”
@our10acres Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 #pardoned #turkey #thanksgiving ♬ original sound – MyPineapple
The video has been viewed 46.8 million times, and thousands of people have left their thoughts in the comments section.
Some people seemed to find the video funny, joking that the turkey would be concerned about its own fate the next year.
One person wrote: “He’s looking like, that’s it I’m moving out before this time next year.”
Others, on the other hand, thought the whole thing was “mean,” arguing that the animal can feel emotion.
Someone commented: “You do know they are sentient right…it literally knows what’s going on. Feels pain and even emotion. Scientifically proven sentient. Damn.”
Another said: “Come on, don’t do that. It’s still kind of sad and means to be showing him that. I get you wanna be funny but come on even for an animal it’s mean.”
While opinions varied, some people called out those who criticized the video, claiming they would most likely be eating meat that day.
One person said: “The same people saying that’s wrong and cruel are the same people who gonna be eating turkey and ham later.”
In response to one comment that it was “kinda sad,” @our10acres responded that the turkey was purchased from a store, not from their farm.
They also stated that Big Red, the turkey, was looking in the oven because it wanted to eat it.
They wrote: “It’s ok to feel that way. If it helps, that’s a store-bought turkey and Big Red wanted to eat it.
“Turkeys are curious, but have no concept of ovens.”