Joaquin Phoenix rescues a cow and her newborn calf from slaughter hours after winning an Academy Award

Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix has been hitting the headlines recently after scooping up multiple awards for his role in The Joker movie and for his impassioned acceptance speeches slamming the injustice cows in the dairy industry are subjected to.

The actor, who is a lifelong vegan and fiercely passionate about animal rights, is often seen alongside activists spreading the vegan message and less than 48 hours after winning the Academy Award for Best Actor he was seen liberating cows from slaughter.

Joining Los Angeles Animal Save, the actor helped to free a cow and her newborn calf from a local slaughterhouse, whom he named Liberty and Indigo.

The group were joined by Joaquin’s fiancée and fellow activist Rooney Mara, both his and Mara’s mothers, Earthlings Director Shaun Monson, Los Angeles Animal Save Founder Amy Jean Davis, and Farm Sanctuary President and Co-founder Gene Baur.

Liberty and Indigo are now enjoying their freedom together at Farm Sanctuary’s Acton location in northern L.A. County.

‘Diplomatic advocacy for the voiceless’

Speaking about the rescue in a statement sent to Vegan Food & Living, Joaquin said: “I never thought I’d find friendship in a slaughterhouse, but meeting Anthony [president/CEO of Manning Beef] and opening my heart to his, I realize we might have more in common than we do differences. Without his act of kindness, Liberty and her baby calf, Indigo, would have met a terrible demise.

“Although we will continue to fight for the liberation of all animals who suffer in these oppressive systems, we must take pause to acknowledge and celebrate the victories, and the people who helped achieve them.

“Shaun Monson, Amy Jean Davis, and the entire LA Animal Save community, have taken their pain of bearing witness and turned it into effective, diplomatic advocacy for the voiceless. As a result, Liberty and Indigo will never experience cruelty or the touch of a rough hand.

“My hope is, as we watch baby Indigo grow up with her mom Liberty at Farm Sanctuary, that we’ll always remember that friendships can emerge in the most unexpected places; and no matter our differences, kindness and compassion should rule everything around us.”

Profound bond

“As a new mother myself, I immediately understood the profound bond between this mother cow and her calf, a bond all of us have with our babies,” said L.A. Animal Save founder Amy Jean Davis.

“Unlike most mothers in the modern food system, Liberty will have the chance to raise her baby Indigo, instead of being separated and killed by the meat and dairy industry. I’m so thankful to Joaquin for his help saving them from slaughter.”