Travis Barker has a new gig, and it involves zero drumsticks. The Blink-182 drummer stars in a 30-second PSA for Humane World For Animals’Small Steps For Good campaign, and the spot shows him trading a mild-mannered look for full punk energy while pushing one message: do good. The campaign highlights three easy actions, adopting shelter pets, avoiding real fur, and choosing cruelty-free products. Humane World For Animals is the former Humane Society of the United States, and president Kitty Block says Barker’s platform helps bring these choices to a brand new audience.
For Barker, this isn’t a one-off photo op. He’s been vegetarian since age thirteen and went fully vegan after surviving a 2008 plane crash. His next VANS collaboration is planned as an all-vegan shoe, and he’s invested in Crossroads Kitchen, the plant-based restaurant in Los Angeles. His daughter Alabama has been vegetarian her entire life. His quotes from the spot are already making the rounds, including,“Good is never boring!”and,“Be nice to animals. It’s not that hard and it won’t cause too much of an identity crisis for anyone.”
So what does this mean for you? Maybe nothing more than a shelter visit the next time you’re thinking about a pet. Or swapping one meat meal a week. Or checking whether your new jacket is actually fur-free. Small steps, no identity crisis required.
Which small step would you actually try? Adopting a shelter pet, going meat-free one day a week, or checking your closet for cruelty-free brands?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.