PETA sparks backlash with graphic shot at Umamusume

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PETA faced strong criticism from fans of the game Umamusume after sharing a disturbing image depicting a beloved character with a severe injury.

On December 10th, an animal rights group posted a picture of Silence Suzuka with a broken leg, comparing it to the game Umamusume: Pretty Derby. They pointed out that in the game, a single failure means a horse girl’s career is over, just like what happened to the real Silence Suzuka.

Okay, so if you haven’t heard of Umamusume: Pretty Derby, it’s this huge thing in Japan. Basically, it takes famous racehorses and turns them into cute anime girls! You train them, race them, and they even perform as idols. It’s really cool because the stories are all about celebrating the real horses they’re based on – like, there’s this one about Haru Urara, who was a total fan favorite even though she never actually won a race. It’s surprisingly touching!

Fans quickly noticed that PETA’s post was both inaccurate and broke the official rules for how the franchise can be represented.

PETA Umamusume image sparks outrage

To ensure the horses are portrayed respectfully, the game’s creators don’t allow players to create or share content that is sexually suggestive, illegal, political, or violates copyright, or that depicts the characters in an explicit way, as stated on the official website.

One fan expressed concern that people are using a horse’s injury to create dramatic reactions, ignoring the hard work that horse racing professionals do to provide excellent care. They also pointed out that this behavior appears to violate the rules regarding fan-created content.

The recent controversy has brought renewed attention to Silence Suzuka, a famously popular racehorse in Japan. Sadly, Silence Suzuka suffered a devastating leg injury during the 1998 Tenno Sho and had to be put down on the racetrack due to the severity of the injury.

Let’s be real: in Umamusume: Pretty Derby, if a horse girl loses, that’s usually it—no second chances. It’s a harsh reality, mirroring what happened to the legendary racehorse Silence Suzuka, who never recovered after a single defeat.

— PETA (@peta) December 10, 2025

His passing deeply affected fans and the racing community, so his depiction in Umamusume is respectful and celebratory, prioritizing a tribute over a strict retelling of his life.

Fans online are criticizing PETA’s portrayal of the situation, arguing that the game Umamusume actually does more to celebrate and respect horses than PETA’s recent posts. One fan commented, “Umamusume does a better job of honoring horses than these misleading and self-promoting posts. PETA should improve its approach or stay silent.”

Someone else stated they strongly dislike the comparison between the real horse’s injury and the fictional horse in the anime, as the two situations are completely different. They also pointed out that the difficult decision of euthanizing a critically injured horse is a complex process that others don’t seem to appreciate.

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2025-12-11 15:20