One day after TMZ published video taken on the set of “A Dog’s Purpose,” director Lasse Hallstrom is speaking out about the “disturbing” footage.
Hallstrom took to Twitter to voice his anger and frustration with the video.
“I am very disturbed by the video released today from the set of my film A dog’s purpose,” one tweet read.
“I did not witness these actions,” he said. “We were all committed to providing a loving and safe environment for all the animals in the film.”
He also says he is a “lifelong” animal fan and has been promised a thorough investigation.
I am very disturbed by the video released today from the set of my film A dog’s purpose.
— lasse hallstrom (@HallstromLasse) January 19, 2017
I did not witness these actions.
We were all committed to providing a loving and safe environment for all the animals in the film.— lasse hallstrom (@HallstromLasse) January 19, 2017
I have been promised that a thorough investigation into this situation is underway and that any wrongdoing will be reported and punished.
— lasse hallstrom (@HallstromLasse) January 19, 2017
I have been promised that a thorough investigation into this situation is underway and that any wrongdoing will be reported and punished.
— lasse hallstrom (@HallstromLasse) January 19, 2017
I have been a lifelong animal lover and A DOG’S PURPOSE is my third film about dogs. The animals’ safety was of utmost priority.
— lasse hallstrom (@HallstromLasse) January 19, 2017
for both myself and everyone on the set. I have been a lifelong animal lover and A DOG’S PURPOSE is my third film about dogs.
— lasse hallstrom (@HallstromLasse) January 19, 2017
We were all committed to providing a loving, respectful and safe environment for all the animals in the film.
— lasse hallstrom (@HallstromLasse) January 19, 2017
On Wednesday, actor Josh Gad, who voices the dog, posted on Facebook about the incident he also considers to be “disturbing.”
A few months ago, I was approached to lend my voice to the film “A Dog’s Purpose.” As I sat in a dark screening room, I was beyond touched and moved by what I saw… a movie that captures the beautiful and pain of loving a pet. I signed on to a film that truly stands out as one of the most beautiful love letters to animals I have ever seen. Today, however, I saw a disturbing video that appears to show a scared German Shepard being forced to perform a stunt on the set of this film. While I do not know all of the details and cannot speak to the level of care and caution that went into this moment (as I was never on set for the making of this film), I am shaken and sad to see any animal put in a situation against its will. As the proud owner of a rescued dog and a fervent support of organizations like PETA, I have reached out to the production team and studio to ask for an explanation for these disturbing images.
The video was recorded in 2015 at a set outside Winnipeg, according to TMZ. The footage shows the dog struggling to stay out of the swirling, frothy water as a trainer forces it in.
Sources told TMZ that eight outboard motors were used to create the churning water.
“A Dog’s Purpose,” which stars Dennis Quaid, Britt Robertson and Josh Grad, is scheduled to be released into theaters Jan. 27, 2017.
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