Every November, as millions of Americans come together to enjoy turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, not everyone joins in the celebration. Some high-profile celebrities have chosen to abstain from Thanksgiving festivities, pointing to the holiday’s associations with animal cruelty, the oppression of Indigenous peoples, and what they perceive as a skewed interpretation of American history.

Hollywood figures such as Angelina Jolie and Alicia Silverstone have been vocal about their opposition to what many call “Turkey Day,” using platforms ranging from impassioned speeches to dedicated animal rights campaigns to express their views.

Alicia Silverstone, known for her role in “Clueless,” has been particularly outspoken. Since 1998, she has committed to a lifestyle free of animal products, transforming Thanksgiving into what she refers to as “save the turkey day.”

In 2024, Silverstone shared a poignant reflection on her feelings about the holiday. “Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I have mixed emotions about it,” she wrote. “I love the truly American tradition of family… But why must we gather around a big, dead animal in the middle of the table? To me, that’s a complete love-and-gratitude buzzkill.”

In 2024, the Clueless star shared a deeply personal reflection explaining why the tradition leaves her conflicted.

‘Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I have mixed emotions about it. I love this truly American tradition of family… But why do we have to do all that with a big, dead animal in the middle of the table?! For me, that’s a total love-and-gratitude buzz kill,’ she wrote.

A number of stars have long rejected Thanksgiving altogether, citing its links to animal cruelty and what they view as a distorted version of American history; Angelina Jolie seen in 2025

Silverstone also condemned the historical origins of the holiday, referencing the ‘pillaging of Native lands and the slaughter of Indigenous peoples,’ while highlighting the modern-scale slaughter of animals.

‘Today, of course, we’re living in different times… we’re killing 660,000 animals an hour in this country alone, every single day. Let’s be honest, we’re not those starving pilgrims any more.’

Instead, she hosts an alternative celebration centered on plant-based feasts, explaining her mission to create a more compassionate environment for her son Bear.

‘So what’s the solution? I say a big, true, compassionate, and beautiful Thanksgiving… My goal is always to serve the most delicious, decadent dishes that have everyone — including meat-eaters — wondering why they even bother with the foods that don’t serve their bodies well.’

Her activism has extended to social media, where she has repeatedly urged fans to rethink traditional feasting.

In 2016, she posted images of a lamb nuzzling a sheep alongside the caption: ‘Approximately 46 MILLION of these sweet beings are slaughtered for #thanksgiving each year! Give thanks without centering the holiday around the body of someone that didn’t want, or deserve, to die.’

Two years later, she doubled down: ’45 million turkeys are slaughtered for #Thanksgiving alone.. Don’t hurt turkeys, kiss them instead. There are sooo many delicious cruelty free Thanksgiving dishes, these ones look yum!’

Legendary singer Cher has also rejected the holiday, but for historical and cultural reasons.

Alicia Silverstone has been one of the most vocal critics of Thanksgiving, having sworn off animal products back in 1998 and transformed the holiday into what she calls ‘save the turkey day’

Silverstone has condemned the historical origins of the holiday, referencing the ‘pillaging of Native lands and the slaughter of Indigenous peoples’

A supporter of Native American causes, she has repeatedly argued that Thanksgiving glorifies conquest rather than gratitude.

When a fan asked in 2013 whether she celebrates, Cher initially shared a warm message of appreciation before clarifying her stance.

‘2 My Crew… I Hope Tomm.is a Glorious day 4 ALL OF U Remember.. A Kind Word, Gesture, Or Compliment can make ANY1′s DAY! THANX4BeingThere4Me.’

She later added bluntly: ‘Not 2 celebrate the beginning of a GREAT Crime.’

Her words quickly ignited backlash from those who viewed her comments as disrespectful to tradition, while others applauded her for confronting the painful historical context.

Angelina Jolie has also reportedly distanced herself from the holiday over its controversial roots.

In 2016, a source told PopEater that the actress was ‘grossed out’ by Thanksgiving and had no intention of honoring it.

‘Jolie hates this holiday and wants no part in rewriting history like so many other Americans,’ the source said, via Fox News.

‘To celebrate what the white settlers did to the native Indians, the domination of one culture over another, just isn’t her style. She definitely doesn’t want to teach her multi-cultural family how to celebrate a story of murder.’

Legendary singer Cher has also rejected the holiday, but for historical and cultural reasons; seen in March 2025

Angelina Jolie has also reportedly distanced herself from the holiday over its controversial roots; seen in October 2025

Her reported discomfort stems from the historical narrative of the pilgrims sharing a meal with the Wampanoag tribe in 1621. 

Despite the report, Jolie has never publicly spoken about her alleged disdain for the holiday. 

Meanwhile, Shailene Woodley has taken a firm stand, linking Thanksgiving directly to the erasure of Indigenous history.

Following her 2016 arrest during protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock, the actress announced she would boycott the holiday entirely.

‘Today is a day that many call Thanksgiving, and it’s a day where kids in elementary school in America are taught false narratives about our native brothers and sisters,’ she said tearfully, branding the holiday as being ‘founded on a massacre.’

Her emotional stance resonated strongly with activist communities, while others accused her of politicizing a family tradition.

Comedian Sarah Silverman put her own scathing spin on the holiday through a satirical video for Funny or Die, taking aim at what she described as America’s self-righteous approach to its history.

Shailene Woodley has taken a firm stand, linking Thanksgiving directly to the erasure of Indigenous history

Explaining the so-called ‘meaning’ of Thanksgiving, she quipped: ‘The turkey we kill is a symbol of the Native Americans we killed.’

‘We’re so grateful for their farming techniques that they taught us, as we learned to harvest our own food on the land we took,’ she continued. ‘We are giving thanks for being American. God bless America and its greedy self righteous heritage.’

Silverman has also thrown her weight behind animal rights initiatives, supporting Farm Sanctuary’s Adopt a Turkey project, encouraging fans to donate instead of buying a bird to eat.

‘You know 68 million turkeys will be killed in the holiday season alone,’ she shared. ‘Farm Sanctuary offers a different way that we can celebrate Turkey Day while also making a difference.’

In an interview with Marie Claire, the star detailed a traumatic childhood memory, when she was 9 or 10, when her dad took her to a ‘neighboring farm to help get stuff for [Thanksgiving dinner].’ 

Sarah Silverman put her own scathing spin on the holiday through a satirical video for Funny or Die, taking aim at what she described as America’s self-righteous approach to its history

‘The farmer, Vic, told me to look at all the turkeys and pick one out. I saw a cute one with a silly walk and cried, “Him!” Before my pointing finger had even dropped to my side, Vic had grabbed the turkey by the neck and slit [the bird’s] throat,’ she recalled.

Silverman recalled ‘blood and feathers’ flying everywhere as she realized she had sentenced a ‘turkey to death.’ 

Jon Stewart took a darker comedic route on The Daily Show in 2014, joking about reenacting Thanksgiving history.

‘I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way,’ he quipped. ‘I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast and then I killed them and took their land.’

Billie Eilish, a committed vegan, has repeatedly urged her fans to rethink Thanksgiving traditions

Meanwhile, Jon Stewart took a darker comedic route on The Daily Show in 2014, joking about reenacting Thanksgiving history

Although some stars reject the holiday entirely, many vegan celebrities still celebrate, but skip the bird.

Billie Eilish, a committed vegan, has repeatedly urged her fans to rethink Thanksgiving traditions.

 In 2021, she shared a photo cradling a turkey at a sanctuary, writing: ‘Turkeys are some of the most gentle creatures in the world. and 46 million of them are killed every Thanksgiving… I know it’s hard to change traditions but just keep it in mind.’

That same year, she joined Joaquin Phoenix and Ricky Gervais in signing a petition asking President Joe Biden to allow the pardoned turkey to remain at Farm Sanctuary.

Other signatories included Rooney Mara, Natasha Lyonne, Margaret Cho and Dave Bautista.

Pamela Anderson has previously chosen a completely different Thanksgiving ritual by spending the day with live turkeys at an animal sanctuary (seen in 2007)

Riverdale star Madelaine Petsch has encouraged her fans to adopt turkeys instead of eating; pictured in November 2025

Kourtney Kardashian also hosted a fully vegan Thanksgiving in 2023, coinciding with husband Travis Barker’s birthday.

Barker adopted veganism after surviving a life-threatening plane crash and has spoken openly about the energy benefits of his diet.

Pamela Anderson has previously chosen a completely different Thanksgiving ritual by spending the day with live turkeys at an animal sanctuary.

‘I go to the Gentle Barn and hang with the turkeys. I tickle them under the wings and I sit them on my lap, and I feed them pumpkin pie,’ she told Page Six in 2012.

Other celebrities have reshaped their Thanksgiving meals entirely around vegetarian and plant-based alternatives. 

Riverdale star Madelaine Petsch has encouraged her fans to adopt turkeys instead of eating them while Kristen Bell sticks with Tofurkey. 

Meanwhile, Brie Larson has been ‘proudly against Thanksgiving’ since she was a young teenager. 

‘I don’t like the food. Some people love it,’ she said on the SNACKS! podcast earlier this month. ‘I feel like we’re working way too hard for turkey, like to make turkey a thing. Relax!’