Joan Jett Challenges Women’s Rights Activists to Protect Female Animals Too: ‘We Are All Sisters’

Joan Jett is speaking out about a cause she’s passionate about: animal rights, specifically when it comes to female creatures.

The 66-year-old rock star has partnered with PETA for a new commercial calling on women’s rights proponents to include animals in their advocacy. Premiering Monday (Oct. 21) during The Rachel Maddow Show, the ad begins with a close-up of Jett’s face before it morphs into headshots of a cat, fox, cow, monkey, dog, sheep and other human women.

“We are all sisters under the skin,” the “I Love Rock ‘N Roll” singer says in the video. “End speciesism!”

Of partnering with the organization, Jett tells Billboard, “I want to do everything I can to help animals, and this campaign resonated with me because female animals, in particular, are some of the most abused animals on the planet.”

“As women, our empathy cannot stop at the human female,” the legend continues. “We must oppose the exploitation and abuse of all females, because every animal is someone, and we are all animals.”

Jett, who is vegan, has been working with PETA for well over a decade. In 2012, she declared her vegetarianism in her first-ever print ad for the non-profit, which read: “A meatless diet saves animals from suffering, combats environmental destruction and is better from my health.”

In 2022, Jett spoke on PETA’s behalf at SeaWorld’s virtual annual shareholders meeting to advocate for an end to the theme park’s “sordid breeding program.” “SeaWorld has caused public outrage by continuing to forcibly breed bottlenose dolphins and beluga whales in order to create generations of animals who then suffer in cramped tanks, deprived of any semblance of a natural life,” she said at the time.

Watch Jett’s PETA ad below.