A final PETA campaign featuring actress Hayden Panettiere was released weeks before her death, emphasizing her lifelong advocacy against marine captivity. The campaign will be shared in August 2026 in memory of Panettiere, according to T-Online. The campaign included footage and a photograph of Panettiere, who passed away at age 36, highlighting the plight of dolphins and other marine animals kept in captivity.

Final Campaign and Message

In the campaign, Panettiere urged people to avoid supporting facilities that keep dolphins in small tanks, stating, “Menschen sollten keine Tickets für Einrichtungen kaufen, die Delfine in kleinen Becken gefangen halten und zu touristischen Attraktionen degradieren.” She posed in a bathtub to draw attention to the cramped conditions dolphins face in captivity, with the slogan on the poster reading, “Könntest du in einer Badewanne leben?”

According to Fox News, Panettiere also emphasized the emotional and physical suffering of marine animals in captivity. “Can you imagine their frustration, their trauma, their depression? All that is important and important for their well-being is ripped away. … We can end this. You and me,” she said in the campaign. The footage from the campaign is set to appear alongside PETA’s tribute in August 2026.

Early Activism and Public Protests

Panettiere’s activism began at a young age when she became a prominent spokesperson for the Whaleman Foundation and the Save the Whales Again! campaign. In 2007, she joined actress Isabel Lucas and activists in Taiji, Japan, to protest the dolphin slaughter. She entered the water wearing a wetsuit and formed a memorial circle for dolphins killed that morning.

The protest turned violent when fishermen attacked the activists with poles and spinning propellers, according to the foundation. Footage from the event was later featured in the 2009 Academy Award-winning documentary “The Cove.” Panettiere later returned to Japan with Whaleman Foundation founder Jeff Pantukhoff to discuss alternatives to dolphin hunting but was prevented from entering town hall.

Legacy and Public Response

PETA confirmed the campaign was created only weeks before Panettiere’s death and will be shared in August 2026 to honor her legacy. Her central message was that people should not support facilities that confine dolphins for entertainment. According to T-Online, the campaign’s Instagram post received numerous comments from followers.

Panettiere’s activism extended across decades, and she remained a vocal advocate for marine life, often using her platform to raise awareness. Her final PETA campaign reflects her unwavering commitment to animal welfare and serves as a lasting message to the public to reconsider their support for marine captivity.