Joaquin Phoenix Defends Zoe Rosenberg, Condemns Her Prosecution As a Moral Failure

Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix defends Zoe Rosenberg, calling her prosecution a “moral failure” adding, “I urge the Sonoma County District Attorney to prosecute the years of documented animal cruelty at Perdue’s Petaluma Poultry slaughterhouse; not the people trying to stop it.”

Hollywood, Ca. September 26th, 2025  – The acclaimed actor has publicly stepped into the spotlight in defense of Zoe Rosenberg, the 23-year-old animal rights activist convicted last month after rescuing four chickens from a slaughterhouse in Sonoma County. Through the animal-rights group Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), Phoenix condemned the prosecution as a “moral failure” and urged authorities to prosecute the facility — not the rescuer.

A High-Profile Conviction

In June 2023, Rosenberg entered the premises of Petaluma Poultry — a slaughterhouse owned by Perdue Farms — where she rescued four live chickens she said were sick and suffering. The birds, later named Poppy, Ivy, Aster, and Azalea, were taken to a sanctuary operated by animal-welfare supporters. The footage of the rescue was publicly released and viewed globally making the case a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over “open rescue” actions involving animals trapped in industrialized animal agriculture.

On October 29, 2025, after a roughly six-to-seven-week trial in Santa Rosa, a Sonoma County jury found Rosenberg guilty on all counts: one felony count of conspiracy, two misdemeanor counts of trespassing, and one misdemeanor count of tampering with a vehicle.

Rosenberg faces a sentencing hearing on December 3, where she could receive as much as four to five years in prison, though probation remains possible. UnchainedTV, which covered the trial LIVE from start to finish will be LIVE at the courthouse for the sentencing, where many are expected to speak out in Rosenberg’s defense.

Despite the conviction, her supporters argue the case was never about property value. As her attorney noted outside court: “Sonoma County spent over six weeks and hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to protect a multi-billion-dollar corporation from the rescue of four chickens worth less than $25.”

Phoenix’s Intervention: Compassion Over Criminalization

Days after the conviction, Phoenix issued a forceful statement via DxE and its legal ally, the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project (AALDP). “Criminalizing people for rescuing suffering animals is a moral failure. Compassion is not a crime. When individuals step in to save a life because the system has looked the other way, they should be supported—not prosecuted. We have to decide who we are as a society: one that protects the vulnerable, or one that punishes those who try.”

He urged the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office instead to “prosecute the years of documented animal cruelty at Petaluma Poultry; not the people trying to stop it.” Rosenberg, and Direct Action Everywhere of which she is a member, say they have tried for years to report to authorities what they describe as “criminal animal cruelty” at the facility and the factory farms that supply the slaughterhouse. They say law enforcement failed to take any action.

Phoenix’s intervention has thrust the case into broader public view — not just as a legal matter, but as a moral and societal dilemma about the rights of activists, the ethics of factory farming, and the boundaries of civil disobedience.

Punishing the Whistleblowers?

Prosecutors maintained that regardless of motivation, Rosenberg’s actions were unlawful. According to the decision from the Sonoma County jury, she committed trespassing, vehicle tampering, and criminal conspiracy. The verdict —  reached in less than 24 hours — underscores the law’s inclination to treat animals as mere property, not as the sentient beings they are.

Rosenberg’s defense — and the broader animal-rights movement — framed the incident as a last-resort rescue after repeated, documented attempts to report alleged abuse. During her testimony, she described discovering “chickens covered in feces,” with “wounds and scratches,” some appearing lethargic or injured. She said she acted after inaction from regulatory authorities.

Her attorneys argued the trial was not just about stolen poultry — it was about forcing accountability for what they say was systemic cruelty at the facility.

Sanctuary Life for Four Chickens, “Open Rescue” Debate for the Law

As of now, the four chickens — Poppy, Ivy, Aster, and Azalea — remain alive and reportedly thrive in a sanctuary under the care of animal-welfare advocates.

But the case’s consequences may stretch far beyond those four lives. Rosenberg’s sentencing — coming December 3 — could mark a major moment for the animal-rights movement nationwide, possibly redefining how “open rescue” actions are prosecuted. For many activists, the case goes beyond theft or trespass; it’s a moral test about whether rescuing suffering beings constitutes a crime.

Phoenix’s statement ensures that the spotlight remains firmly on the larger issue: when law enforcement criminalizes rescuers but overlooks alleged cruelty, is the system protecting society — or punishing compassion?

Perdue has denied all allegations of animal cruelty, saying they operate within the law and government regulations. The company is invited on any time to comment further.