Joan Jett kicked off South Dakota Macy’s Thanksgiving parade float because of PETA support

Rock legend Joan Jett and her band, the Blackhearts, were supposed to perform on the South Dakota tourism board’s float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. However, due to her support of a vegetarian diet and PETA, she has been booted from the float.

South Dakota ranchers and farmers were critical of the choice, noting that she supports a group that is critical of livestock practices. South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association President Cory Eich noted that it didn’t make sense for them to have an artist whose views were critical of one of the top economic sectors in the state, notes The Associated Press.

However, the state Tourism Secretary, Jim Hagen, told the AP that the state did not pick Jett. They couldn’t find a performer whose schedule allowed them to go to New York, so Macy’s suggested the “I Love Rock and Roll” singer. A rep for the singer said she accepted the invite, since she loves the state and has performed there several times.

Macy’s parade spokesman Orlando Veras told the AP that Jett will still perform at the parade, just on a different float. He explained that the decision was made so that there’s no further attention taken away from the parade’s “entertainment mission.”

This isn’t the only controversy surrounding this year’s parade. As the New York Times notes, SeaWorld’s float is expected to draw protests. By Friday, Macy’s had received over 87,000 emails from people asking them to pull the float. SeaWorld has been targeted by critics since the documentary Blackfish looked at their controversial treatment of killer whales.

“The Parade has never taken on, promoted or otherwise engaged in social commentary, political debate, or other forms of advocacy, no matter how worthy,” Veras told the AP in response to the Jett controversy. That probably extends to the SeaWorld controversy as well.

image: Wikimedia Commons