Pharrell Has Run-In with PETA Protester at His Film's TIFF Premiere

Pharrell Williams wasn’t necessarily “happy” with PETA’s protest at his latest event.

While appearing on a panel with speakers following the screening at the Toronto International Film Festival for his new LEGO animated documentary on Wednesday, September 11 Piece by piecethe “Frontin'” hitmaker, 51, was interrupted when a PETA protester ran into the venue accusing him of killing animals for his clothing designs. Williams is the men’s creative director at luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton and has his own streetwear lines Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream.

“Pharrell: Stop supporting killing animals for fashion,” the woman’s caption read as she sang over and over.

Pharrell Williams at the premiere of the movie ‘Piece by Piece’ — September 2024.

Isaiah Trickey/FilmMagic

In a video of the commotion shared on social media, security tried to intervene, but the music mogul signaled them to stand back so he could handle things himself.

“You’re right,” Williams told the woman repeatedly as she continued to scream. “God bless you,” he added.

As some in the audience applauded his response to the woman’s outbursts, he encouraged everyone to give her a round of applause.

Pharrell Williams details creating custom tour for Beyoncé: ‘A powerful spirit is meant to be launched’

“Yes, I am.” I did, you’re right,” Williams told the person.

She was eventually escorted out, and the musician used that time to respond to the woman’s claims.

“You know, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and sometimes when you have plans to change things and situations – you have to get into a position of power and influence where you can change people’s minds and help progress,” he began. .

Pharrell Williams, September 2024.

Tracey Biel/Variety via Getty

“That’s not necessarily the way it’s done, and as I sit in my seat, when I’m having conversations on behalf of organizations like that, and they don’t know it, they come in here and do themselves a disservice,” Williams continued. “That’s fine. When that change happens, everyone in this room will remember that I told you that we are actually working on it. And if she had only asked me, I would have told her. But instead, she wanted to repeat herself.”

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) shared a statement explaining why they “put Pharrell on fire” on their website.

Pharrell with the support of all four children at his first Louis Vuitton show as men’s creative director

“You made the same comment in Paris in July at your Olympic opening party,” the organization said. “It doesn’t take ‘work’ to make the decision to stop doing something that most designers have already stopped doing. Now you have the power to make an important change, and if you don’t, you should take it somewhere you can.”

Piece by piece directed by Morgan Neville, it tells the life story of the singer and producer through LEGO pieces. Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar and JAY-Z lent their voices in the film.

Never miss a story — subscribe to PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

While at TIFF, Williams admitted that he was “decisive” about including his wife Helen Lasichanh and their family in the film.

I gave it all up [Neville]so I followed his lead,” he told PEOPLE /Entertainment Weekly entourage at the festival. “He’s the director, right? So we followed his lead. It was great. I’d like to keep my private life private, but this was a moment where it was just, ‘No, let me drive Morgan. He sees something which I do not see.’ And he did.”

Piece by piece it’s in theaters on October 11.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education