Manchester Metropolis striker Erling Haaland bought forward of animal rights group PETA by slicing his hair earlier than the 2026/27 Premier League season bought underway. However what prompted PETA to focus on Haaland’s trademark blonde locks within the first place?
The imposing Norwegian ahead captivated American supporters – and dominated social media feeds – together with his seemingly old style enthusiasm for American tradition. Haaland developed a specific affinity for Texan custom, making a memorable cease at Wild Invoice’s Western Retailer in Dallas.
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The hanging distinction of a towering Viking decked out in nation apparel quickly went viral, with Haaland gaining over 22 million Instagram followers over the course of the summer time.
-Credit score:Mike Hewitt, Getty Photos
The Premier League striker picked up a $750 taxidermied raccoon throughout his Wild Invoice’s go to forward of Norway’s World Cup Spherical of 32 match towards Cote d’Ivoire, and clutched it tightly upon returning to Norway following his nation’s World Cup elimination.
“It adopted me dwelling,” Haaland wrote alongside a photograph of himself and his furry companion on X, a publish that racked up properly over 20 million views.
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“It is damaging when widespread, influential stars like Haaland present such callous disregard for animals,” PETA Director Klay Rutherford solely instructed the Mirror U.S. Sports activities.
PETA maintains that raccoons – or any animals for that matter – ought to by no means function props for jokes or social media attention-seeking. The group launched a retaliatory marketing campaign in August, dubbed “The Raccoon Strikes Again,” constructed round a Haaland-themed Halloween costume.
The costume encompasses a Viking helmet, a soccer jersey, and an Erling Haaland masks with a raccoon chopping off the striker’s man bun. And sure, it is on sale (in all sizes) on the PETA on-line store for $70.
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“Our message to Erling is straightforward: accumulate trophies on the soccer subject based mostly by yourself achievements, and never by celebrating the deaths of animals who simply needed to reside peacefully with their households,” Rutherford added.
Particular authorization from the Norwegian Atmosphere Company is required to follow and promote taxidermied gadgets within the Scandinavian international locations. No such regulation is required in the USA.
Predictably, PETA stands firmly against the follow. “Most animals who find yourself with the taxidermist are violently killed and are stuffed and mounted,” Rutherford defined.
“We do not understand how this specific raccoon died, however when a wild animal turns into a celeb memento, it could possibly make taxidermy appear stylish as an alternative of prompting folks to ask why an animal’s physique ended up on show within the first place.”
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Wild Invoice’s Western Retailer skilled a dramatic surge in reputation following Haaland’s go to and was pressured to ascertain a worldwide delivery program instantly. “We’re someplace round 2,000 on-line orders proper now,” proprietor Julie Newport instructed The Athletic.
Rutherford contended that institutions like Wild Invoice’s aren’t genuinely concerned with preserving conventional and stereotypical Texas customs: they’re solely targeted on turning a revenue.
“Tradition and custom are by no means an excuse for animal abuse, and positively a enterprise mannequin is not both,” he mentioned. “Companies like this depend on violently killing animals and stuffing and mounting them in demeaning poses in pursuit of income. This is not about custom. That is about this firm promoting a lifeless animal for a whole lot of {dollars}.”
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Haaland, a worldwide icon with 77 million Instagram followers, might be proof against any backlash. Furthermore, the striker has ignited the 2026/27 Premier League marketing campaign, netting three targets throughout Manchester Metropolis’s first two matches (each victories).
Taxidermy is not his sole PETA-related transgression: the Norwegian attacker additionally has an affinity for designer Birken baggage, which depend upon dangerously farmed crocodile pores and skin for manufacturing.
Nevertheless, ought to Haaland want to make amends for his actions, PETA would embrace each him (and his large worldwide platform) becoming a member of their mission. “If Erling Haaland is seeking to atone for his choices, we’d welcome the chance to work with him on a marketing campaign,” Rutherford concluded.