Jeremy Clarkson has found himself back in the headlines this week, but on this rare occasion, it isn't by his own hands. Earlier this week, the former Top Gear host's pub was targeted by vegan activists who set fire to a realistic-looking fog on a barbecue.
PETA activists set up shop outside The Farmer's Dog in Burford, Oxfordshire, which the TV star opened back in 2024 and documented on his Prime Video show. If there's one thing we know about Clarkson, it's that he doesn't do things by halves. He commits himself fully to a project and works tirelessly to deliver it to the best of his abilities.
British-Only Produce Policy
And what better example of that is there than at his Oxfordshire pub, which prides itself on serving entirely British produce. So much so that the journalist has received complaints about his limited menu options.
After opening his doors two years ago, the 66-year-old star has stood firm in his refusal to serve items like ketchup and coffee unless there are high-quality alternatives made in the British Isles. So to see his hard work made a mockery of by passionate activists is baffling to say the least.
The Protest and PETA's Message
The vegan activists set up a fake barbecue outside his establishment with a sign that read, 'Wouldn't eat the Farmer's Dog? Why eat a pig? Go vegan!' The body of the dog looked like it had been set alight, while its face remained untouched.
PETA Senior Campaign Manager Kate Werner said of the campaign: "Pigs are playful, intelligent individuals who feel pain and fear, love their families, and value their own lives, just like dogs do. Clarkson says he's 'always been fond of pigs', and he - and other patrons - ought to put that fondness into practice and leave pigs off their plates. Because there's no more reason to eat a pig than a dog."
Why Target Clarkson?
My argument with this is simple: what makes Clarkson's pub any different from the thousands of other pubs up and down the country? If anything, the broadcaster is vetting his suppliers more than your average pub because he is so strict about where his produce is grown and reared.
As a meat-eater myself, I would feel more reassured as a customer that the animals that went into making his food lived a happier and healthier life than I do about the burgers being served up at my local Greene King establishment. They're simply targeting him because of his fame, and not because of the standards he has in place for his local produce.
I would respect PETA more if they went after the bigger corporations like Greene King and Wetherspoons; at least their protests have a higher chance of having a nationwide impact rather than simply looking to change one pub's procedures. But again, they're not protesting for better treatment of animals; they're simply protesting because a large portion of the population eats animals, and these businesses have dared to cater to them.
A History of Stunts
This isn't the first time PETA has targeted Clarkson in one of its high-profile stunts. Last December, they gifted him a "Christmassacre" jumper, which featured a Christmas tree made up of slaughtered pigs and covered in red paint made to look like blood. These grotesque stunts are simply made to get people talking and not really to inspire any change.
Clarkson has never publicly responded to the charity, and in all honesty, I don't think he needs to. The dad-of-three has shown every step of the process in developing his farm and his pub on Clarkson's Farm. Every single bit, including the incredible highs and the heartbreaking lows. It's plain to see that he adores the animals he rears on his farm, and the devastation it brings when they die or are sent off to slaughter. This remains one of my favourite places to enjoy a meal out, and I am content with the lives these animals have led before ending up on their plates.
