Pierce Brosnan reportedly sympathetic to Animal Rebellion protest at London restaurant

It may be surprising to have a table of Animal Rebellion protesters sitting at a nearby table when you're trying to enjoy a meal, however the open-minded and animal appreciating Pierce Brosnan was apparently sympathetic to the cause.

Last Friday (17 March 2023), 15 protesters organised a sit-in at a Mayfair restaurant in London called Scott's. They peacefully occupied tables reserved for diners and held menus with starters, mains and desserts all themed on conservation messages. Sitting nearby to the protest was Brosnan and his wife.

This sympathy to their cause makes sense, as Brosnan - the four times Bond movie star - has spoken out in the past about animal rights and conservation. In fact, Pierce Brosnan and his wife, Keely Shaye are committed environmentalists.

"Together we are stronger, our voices louder, and the synergy of our actions more powerful," said Brosnan on the subject of marine life protection. "Together we can prevail on the Navy to put common-sense safeguards in place, like requiring its ships to avoid the most sensitive marine mammal habitats and to stop their training exercises during peak migrations."

Brosnan and Shaye worked with the environmental advocacy group the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC) in their efforts to stop the Navy deployment of sonar systems that have been shown to kill whales, dolphins, seals and other marine mammals.

The Brosnans also worked with the NRDC in the late 1990’s, successfully stopping a proposed salt factory at Laguna San Ignacio on Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. They protected the last pristine breeding ground for the Pacific grey whale by supporting this campaign.

Friday's protest in London was said to be showing the benefits of a plant-based food system and rewilding. Animal Rebellion says that luxury dining represents the massive inequality in today’s society with the cost of living, environment, and animal crises being exhibited all together in one venue.

One of the protesters who spoke to Brosnan claimed that he had expressed sympathy for what they were doing and the cause.

A climate protester was cleared of any wrongdoing at Poole Magistrates' Court last Friday, the same day as the protest with Brosnan, after she tried to approach David Attenborough at a Michelin-star restaurant.

The protester, named Emma Smart, was arrested in November after being issued with a Section 35 dispersal order. She was at the Catch At The Old Fish Market in Weymouth when she refused to leave the restaurant and continued to shout towards where Attenborough was sitting.

Officers issued Smart with a Section 35 dispersal order. Moments after this dispersal order, she was arrested for failing to comply with the order and leave the area.

Deputy District Judge Clare Boichot said: "I'm not satisfied this was a reasonable amount of time to comply with the notice."

The judge said the whole incident lasted "no more than 18 minutes" and Smart was given "just seconds" to comply with the notice before she was arrested.

Attenborough may have been sympathetic to this protester, as Brosnan was to witnessing the one last week. In the last few years, Attenborough has been more outspoken on the subject of the climate crisis and urgent action which is required.

The BBC recently decided not to broadcast an episode of Attenborough's flagship new series, Saving Our Wild Isles, due to apparent fears its themes of the destruction of nature would risk backlash from Tory politicians and right-wing press.