Glittering Justice Delivered: A Night to Remember

Protest Disrupts European Premiere of Pharrell Williams’ "Piece By Piece" at BFI London Film Festival

The 68th BFI London Film Festival (LFF) was disrupted on its closing night by a group of animal rights activists from PETA. The protest, which involved two men draped in animal rights banners, occurred during the European premiere of Morgan Neville’s film "Piece By Piece", starring Pharrell Williams.

The Incident

Prior to the screening, festival director Kristy Matheson was conducting a Q&A session with Neville and Williams when the two men, located on the balcony, shouted messages about animal rights, including comments directed towards Williams. Matheson attempted to placate the protesters, thanking them for their message, before guiding the audience off-stage to begin the film.

However, Pharrell Williams, who was also suffering from illness that limited the strength of his speech, chose to intervene, stating that he did not want the protesters to control the narrative.

The Film’s Premiere

The protesters were subsequently removed from the auditorium by security, and the film began approximately two minutes later, with Williams introducing the film and thanking the audience for attending.

Background and Reactions

The protest follows similar action at the Toronto International Film Festival, where the world premiere of "Piece By Piece" was disrupted. In response to the incident, the British Film Institute (BFI) issued a statement saying that their security team followed protocol, asking the protesters to leave and then escorting them out of the auditorium. Pharrell Williams interacted with the protesters on-stage, and the BFI stated that any attempt to remove them earlier would have exacerbated the situation.

Conclusion

The incident serves as a reminder of the controversial and polarizing nature of animal rights activism, which can sometimes lead to disruptions in public events and gatherings.

Frequently Asked Questions

• When did the protest occur?
  • The protest occurred on the closing night of the 68th BFI London Film Festival.
• What was the purpose of the protest?
  • The protest was organized by animal rights group PETA to draw attention to their cause.
• What were the actions taken by the security team?
  • The security team followed protocol, asking the protesters to leave and then escorting them out of the auditorium.
• How did Pharrell Williams react to the protest?
  • Williams intervened on-stage, stating that he did not want the protesters to control the narrative.