Steven Berkoff – famed for playing Russian KGB defector General Orlov opposite Sir Roger Moore in Octopussy – joined forces with PETA to take on Fortnum & Mason. They’re the next target in PETA’s move to remove foie gras from the shelves of every UK department store, and coincidentally his nemesis Sir Roger Moore was the main player of PETA’s Selfridges campaign.
Steven Berkoff outside Fortnum & Mason to protest foie gras as part of PETA's campaign
He turned up on the day.. not exactly dressed as expected. The majority of celebs that attend PETA photo-ops are.. well.. at least well presented. No offence to Steven of course – he’s been in one of my top 5 films of all time; Clockwork Orange – but rocking up in slacks and a beanie hat.. everyone did a double take.
It was what he did next that stunned the PETA staff members. The manager of PETA UK had come along to make sure things ran smoothly and Steven proceeded to suggest that the shoot would look a lot better if she got down on her knees and he ‘force-fed’ her, using a pipe similar to those used to forcefeed ducks and geese in the foie gras industry.
Steven Berkoff with a sinister look as he forcefeeds PETA UK's Manager
She obliged of course and got down on her knees with Steven looming over her looking as sinister as any bad guy he’s played. As with any PETA photoshoot involving celebs, it’s short lived enough for press to get their choice photos and go off back to the office to edit and upload them, that was my aim too, but it had finished even before the press were picking up news releases off a volunteer.
Steven left after handing the pipe to a confused Fortnum & Mason staff member, and PETA’s campaign to get Fortnum & Mason to drop foie gras had another successful notch to add to its bedpost.
Steven Berkoff playing the 'bad guy' and looking maniacal
