Animal Rights Activists Call For Cardi B To Step Down From Performing at Texas Rodeo

About 16,000 animal rights activists have signed a petition with a mission to persuade #CardiB from performing at a Texas rodeo event.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is an annual rodeo that takes place in Houston, Texas. This year the now Grammy-winning rap star is set to perform at the event on March 1. However, more than 15,000 activists have signed a petition titled “Cardi B Should Not Perform at This Abusive Rodeo,” in an attempt to convince Cardi to drop out the performance. The petition was created on the site Care2, and was started by a woman named Kelsey, who writes “Horrible news, animal lovers: Cardi B is headlining an event chock-full of animal abuse: the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.”

The petition calls the Bronx rapper out, noting “how much she loves animals,” as she has several dogs at her home. “Honestly, events like this shouldn’t exist, and if more people like Cardi B said so, we could start closing them down.”  “Cardi B is, herself, an animal lover, which is why we’re asking her to stand up for these poor animals and cancel her performance at the rodeo.”

In response, the rodeo released a statement saying the show will go on. “The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo strongly believes in the importance of animal welfare. We take great pride in the care and attention our livestock receive throughout the Rodeo. We work closely with veterinary professionals and the Houston SPCA who are on-site daily. We are looking forward to welcoming Cardi B on March 1 and would be happy to show her how we treat all animals.”

Some argued that the techniques used to make the animals enraged, like using flanks straps to make bulls buck, are inhumane. But others, like RodeoHouston president Joel Cowley, says the animals have normal lives outside of the arena. “They might perform two or three times during the course of the rodeo, but the rest of the time, they’re here. They’re being animals. They’re out in pastures, they’re eating the highest quality food, and they’re cared for very, very well.”