Simon Jordan BEMUSED by calls from PETA for Crystal Palace to RETIRE Eagle Mascot!

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PETA calls on Crystal Palace to retire live eagle mascot Phoenix as Simon Jordan questions the evidence

talkSPORT brings on PETA representative Jennifer White to debate whether Crystal Palace should stop using the live eagle Phoenix in matchday displays. PETA argues that wild animals should not be entertainment props, while Simon Jordan and others question whether the bird's distress can be proven and see an ideological argument behind the campaign. Palace had not yet responded during the discussion.

Simon Jordan, Jim White & Sean Dyche were joined by a PETA spokesperson to discuss whether Crystal Palace should retire their Eagle mascot. Subscribe: https://youtube.com/c/talkSPORT Enjoyed this YouTube video? 😍 🖥️ talkSPORT's Website: https://talksport.com/ 📲 talkSPORT's Twitter: https://twitter.com/talkSPORT 📷 talkSPORT's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talksport/?hl=en 👤 talkSPORT's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkSPORT/ 📱 talkSPORT's Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talksport ? 🔴 Download the talkSPORT app HERE! - https://talksport.com/apps/ 🔎 Want to see if you feature on our YouTube channel? Check out our Best talkSPORT callers playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFVMnSsi04LGLa9pS9xDvme-Gjmlu2 talkSPORT PremierLeague crystalpalace

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Crystal Palace, Simon's former club. I don't think this went on in your time, Simon, but it's certainly gone on since. Um, Palace introduced a a pre-match display from Kayla the Eagle, Crystal Palace, the Eagles. Kayla the Eagle from 2010. Now, this was a real live bird, a real live eagle. She died in 2020 after a decade service. But Kayla's replacement, Phoenix, made her debut before the game against West Ham in August 2024 and has been meeting supporters in the fan zone and being introduced at Halime with her handler ever since. But this isn't going to go on for much longer if Peter have their way. Who is Peta? Peta is the people for the ethical treatment of animals. and Peter have written a letter to Crystal Palace saying that the match day experience can leave the bird quote frightened, disoriented, and panicked. And it can also put spectators at risk. And now Peter are leaning on Crystal Palace to commit to never using a live animal mascot again. So, I'm delighted to say Peter Representative Jennifer White joins us live in the show. Jennifer, good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. Thanks for having me. >> Well, thank you for joining us. So, obviously you're extremely serious about this. You think to to use a live bird as Palace have been doing for a number of years. The time has come to end this. Why? >> Well, absolutely. I mean, the bottom line here is that live animals don't belong in a football stadium. And when eagles are used for displays like this, they are denied the opportunity to engage in their natural behaviors, you know, they perform incredible sky dances. They choose a mate who they stay with for life and they build these giant nests up in the highest of tree branches, you know, and being denied this ultimately results in a lot of frustration and stress because wild instincts of birds are retained even when they're raised in captivity. Um, so look, you know, it's 2026. There's simply no reason why Crystal Palace is still using a live bird for entertainment and it's time for Phoenix to be retired to a sanctuary. >> I mean, Phoenix, as I understand it, is based at Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation in Ken and uh the handlers tell us that she's carefully prepared for her her prestigious role as Palace's official live mascot um every time that that she's used. So obviously a great degree of care goes into it but you think no that apart this shouldn't go on. >> Well it's quite ironic you know bald eagles are widely recognized as symbols of freedom but this organization is exploiting one as nothing more than a prop for entertainment. Phoenix was hatched just for this purpose. She was born to be confined and used. And the foundation is not a genuine animal sanctuary. It's just a licensed zoo. It exploits animals including other eagles, uh, owls, mircats, and alpacas as well for money in these sort of expensive tourist encounters. And the animals don't consent. You know, it's really stressful for them. And they would never naturally engage with humans, you know, in the wild. So, we need to protect wildlife in the wild, not hold them in cages to then be rolled out at football games. >> Okay. Well, Simon, it's your former club, but in general terms, using a live bird here. Jennifer is saying no, it should be time up. It It's not appropriate and it shouldn't happen. This is your club. What do you think? I mean, I don't know how you get an animal to consent. Was it nod its feet to the left twice if it was in agreement? Um, look, I don't look, you know, she'll probably go epopletic. I used to use a hulk in the stadium to hunt down the pigeons um during the preseason. So, I don't know what the reaction to that would be. But look, I mean, I'm not conversant with the environment that these animals are brought up in. I'm not conversant with the facts that she's alluding to that the people that are caring for this animal that features 23 times a season is in great distress. I mean, we've seen instigate I've seen I've read reports that that a Chartton fan tried to punch the eagle once. It would be about right for a Charton fan to pick a fight with an animal. But notwithstanding that, look, I mean, I I you know, I'm not going to have an ethical argument about how this animal's being treated. I I I would imagine that there's a degree of responsibility upon the carers that look after this. You're suggesting that their only motivation is commercial. I I don't know if you know that to be a fact. That makes your case very well for you that you that the only reason this animal's been utilized is for financial gain. I would assume that the financial gain that they're getting from using a football match is very very small in comparison what the cost implications of maybe able to keep the animal in the first place. But you make a point about the animals distress. I don't know. The the animal the previous animal was in service for 10 years. Did it get a watch? Did it get some trinket? A clock? >> I wouldn't have thought. Well, I've got an award of some kind. A testimonial, man. >> Yeah, maybe a testimonial. >> Well, come on. I mean, Jennifer and Peter are serious about this and and obviously you are, Jennifer, because you've chosen to come on and join us. But at the end of the day, Jennifer, what you can't deny is that the presence of the bird in the buildup to a game gives the fans a lot of excitement. Probably young kids love it as well. So, there are advantages in this as well, are there not? Well, those advantages are not serving Phoenix, who is literally just being used as a gimmick and a prop. And I think regardless of how she is treated, we should surely all be able to agree that in 2026, animals should not be serving us for entertainment. And also, she is in a bright stadium filled with boisterous fans. You know, this is no place for an American bald eagle or any other animal. And when she isn't in the stadium, she's being subjected to the stress of restraint during transportation. um she's confined to a small exhibit enclosure at the owner's facility. It's just completely unacceptable. You know, in nature, these birds spend most of their time high in the tree line and would never naturally encounter humans. Um you know, let alone being forced to interact with these excitable fans or children. And it sends a really damaging message to young fans as well. You know, they should be learning about how American Eagles would thrive in the wild, not how they behave at a football stadium. Just out of interest, American eagles they kept in zoos as well, I imagine. So surely people go and look at American eagles in zoos. They're not flying wild, are they? I don't know how that works, but >> is that right? >> Well, wildlife belongs in the wild. They don't belong in zoos. >> No, no, but I mean they are in zoos world. >> The very existence of this eagle, I mean I don't know how you will know how distressed this animal is or isn't. I mean, have you taken a psychological profile of bald eagles to be able to assess that? But we're talking about something that's born into captivity. So, by the very nature of your argument, the very existence of this animal full stop is something that you would object to because it's been born into an environment which is not its natural habitat. It's never going to be in its natural habitat. So, the whole circumstance of its existence is a flawed concept by your logic, isn't it? Well, we shouldn't be breeding animals for a life in confinement. Now, where else is it going to go? >> Park is also one of the last remaining clubs to exploit animals as mascots. All the other clubs have done the right thing and they have retired their mascots like the Tottenham Hotspur FC retired um alive cockp which you can't possibly speak to unless you know their motivations. The only motivation for the people that care for this animal is for financial gain. That's your assertion. But what I would suggest that perhaps they might know just as much as you might know, although yours is ideological, the well-being of this animal and how much distress this animal is or isn't. If you're if you're making the broad perspective that in an ideal world, it would only exist in a wild habitat where it can fly freely. Well, it doesn't that doesn't it wouldn't exist on that basis in this country. So the fact that the animal exists as a matter of course in its less than ideal scenario is one thing, but now you're moving it along to the distress of the animal without really knowing the motivations behind the people that are caring for it, what they think of it, why they think the animal wouldn't be as distressed as you're suggesting it would be. All of those have to be factored into a balanced conversation surely. >> Well, in a business sense, when's its contractor? I mean, I I think we're sort of muddying the waters a bit and missing the the point that an American bald eagle should not be bred into captiv captivity to be used as a prop at a football game and whether it's for a financial gain, whether it's your view, your view is that you've got the zeitgeist, but your view is with respect that you've got the zeitgeist on how American bald eagles should operate and live in this country. It shouldn't be by definition. My my argument with you is if they are only able to operate in their purest form in a certain environment, then it wouldn't exist in this country full stop. So what's the alternative? Not to have an American bald eagle because the only place is going to live. >> You shouldn't have an American bald eagle, >> right? So you're wishing out of existence now. You you you want the the the eagle retire. Doesn't sound like retire and and probably uncag it and let it let it fly off into the >> Would it not be confused that it's called Phoenix? Well, a final one for me to you, Jennifer, and thank you for joining us. And I do mean that. Before Phoenix was in existence. Before that, it was Kayla. This has been going on for quite a long number of years. So, why have Peter suddenly decided, "No, this has got to end because the animal is frightened, disoriented, and panicked. You You've just decided, right, this is over. It's got to finish now." So, why now? >> Well, they're the last ones that are still doing this. And you know, tradition is no excuse for cruelty. And no sports team should want to be associated with animal abuse. You know, we know so much more about these animals than we ever have. And no animal deserves to be yanked and dragged around a sports arena or any other event. You know, the times are changing and animals are no longer seen as a form of entertainment. >> And have you had a response from Palace? Will Palace go with your wishes? Um, we have not had a response yet, but um, you know, this is obviously still ongoing and the story did only break yesterday, so we are very optimistic. >> Jennifer, thank you for joining us. Um, well, they're ideologically aligned to a premise, right? So, the argument would be, how do you shift someone that's ideologically aligned with the fact that animals should not be used in any way? Yeah. Full stop. Yeah. Right. So by definition, you could expand that to a whole raft of animals, but there is no way that that lady can suggest that she knows that this particular animal is distressed or not distressed. Yeah. You know, and so with that in mind, you have to take to some extent what they're saying with a pinch of salt because I would say that the converse argument to this would be the people that she has just dumped all over that suggest suggestes that they have no care for this animal that their only motivation is to get the 200 quid they're probably getting out of a match day as as their as the reasons why they're using this animal in this way. U it makes sense to me because I understand where she's coming from about the purest premise. Okay. But she can't possibly uh understand how much distress the animals in besides the ideological perspective that they should never be in captivity. >> I mean, do the fans enjoy it? I'm sure they do. 810 89, if you want to shoot me a quick Phoenix loses the the buzz of the crowd as well. I'm devastated from >> Well, this is it. I think Jennifer is still trying to recover from that. He used to use a hawk to get rid of the pigeons when he was there. It's coming up to 10 to 1. We've had um a quite stunning reaction uh to our chat about the live eagle being used at Crystal Palace that PETA uh the organization the people for the ethical treatment of animals um they want this over. They don't want this to to carry on. They think the days of a live eagle being used pre-match for the crowd entertainment should be gone. And that is that. Thanks to Jennifer White for joining us from Peter there because uh with Shawn, myself and Simon in studio. She sold her John very very well. and uh get to our argument if you like. So many of you getting in touch. There's Ruben the Gunnar. Just ask the eagle if it's okay about it. Um honestly, I don't see what all the fuss is about, says Chris from Rexom. If it entertains a crowd, why not? >> Well, the bird's been bred into captivity, so it's probably institutionalized anyway. >> So, it will relate to the experiences it has. She's she is ideologically aligned to a premise you're not going to shift her from. And some of it is very based upon merit. And it's a wonderful thing for an organization like this because nothing amplifies voices than football. Yeah. >> Look at Jim Ratcliffe. Jim Ratcliffe making a statement about business from from an inas point of view. No one hears about it. Jim Ratcliffe making a statement about business and being Man United's owner. Boom. It goes viral. These guys talking about something in relation to football highlights their organization because football amplifies everything. >> I wonder if Chris is an Arsenal fan. Uh I don't know what Tottenham fans must be thinking about this. They've been watching 11 live donkeys run around the pitch for quite a number of weeks now. There's one from Graeme the Everton. Hi guys, Benfica still use an eagle before the games and always have and the crowd love it. So are Peter going to head over to Portugal and stop them doing that as well? It's about tradition at a football club, isn't it? >> But that's not her argument. The fact that the crowd love it is not her argument. The fact is that the animals in distress. >> Yeah, >> which she can't possibly know. And her argument is that the animal should never existed. I've seen that eagle up close as manager and it always looks all right to me. Said hello to it when I walk past. All right, kiddo. Right, Phoenix always looks at me confused like D. Why are they calling me Phoenix? I'm an eagle. I can't >> Sean, can we have that clipped up? I don't know when he said it at 12:53. I've seen that eagle close up and it always looks all right to me. >> It does always look happy when I walk past it. All right. Can I