Editing Joaquin Phoenix (section)

==Other ventures==
===Music===
Phoenix has directed music videos for [[Ringside (band)|Ringside]],<ref>{{cite web| title=Tired of Feeling Sorry| url=https://www.myspace.com/ringside| publisher=Ringside| access-date=August 22, 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928194515/http://www.myspace.com/ringside| archive-date=September 28, 2008| url-status=live}}</ref> [[She Wants Revenge]],<ref>{{cite web| title=Tear You Apart| url=https://www.myspace.com/shewantsrevenge| publisher=She Wants Revenge| access-date=August 22, 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002094718/http://myspace.com/shewantsrevenge| archive-date=October 2, 2007| url-status=live}}</ref> [[People in Planes]],<ref>{{cite web| title=If you Talk Too Much (My Head Will Explode)| url=https://www.myspace.com/peopleinplanes| publisher=People in Planes| access-date=August 22, 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012233419/http://myspace.com/peopleinplanes| archive-date=October 12, 2007| url-status=live}}</ref> [[Arckid]],<ref>{{cite web| title=I'll Stick Around| url=https://www.myspace.com/arckid| publisher=Arckid| access-date=August 22, 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706172614/http://www.myspace.com/arckid| archive-date=July 6, 2008| url-status=live}}</ref> [[Albert Hammond Jr.]],<ref>{{cite web| title=In Transit| url=https://www.myspace.com/alberthammondjr| publisher=Albert Hammond Jr| access-date=August 22, 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070903051204/http://myspace.com/alberthammondjr| archive-date=September 3, 2007| url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Silversun Pickups]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Little Lovers so Polite| url=https://www.myspace.com/silversunpickups| website=Silversun Pickups| access-date=March 10, 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516175947/http://myspace.com/silversunpickups| archive-date=May 16, 2008| url-status=live}}</ref> He was said to have produced the opening track for [[Pusha T]]'s ''[[My Name Is My Name]]'' album alongside [[Kanye West]]. The track is called "King Push". Phoenix then denied in a statement to ''[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]'' having produced the record, saying, "While it was widely reported that Pusha T used my beat and that I produced his song, I can't take any credit. A friend's son played me his music, and all I did was make an introduction to Kanye [West]'s camp."<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.25638/joaquin-phoenix-denies-producing-pusha-t-s-king-push-|title=Joaquin Phoenix denies producing Pusha T's King Push| access-date=May 1, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230033511/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.25638/joaquin-phoenix-denies-producing-pusha-t-s-king-push-|archive-date=December 30, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Animal rights activism===
Phoenix is identified as one of the most active celebrities in the [[animal rights movement]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/pbn-interview-vegan-oscar-winner-joaquin-phoenix/|title=EXCLUSIVE: PBN Interview With Vegan Oscar-Winner Joaquin Phoenix|work=Plant Based News|first=Klaus|last=Mitchell|date=December 7, 2020|access-date=May 23, 2021|archive-date=June 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614082432/https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/pbn-interview-vegan-oscar-winner-joaquin-phoenix/|url-status=live}}</ref> A vegan since he was three, he does not wear any clothes made out of animal skin; he requests that all of his leather costumes in films are made from synthetic materials.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.peta.org/features/joaquin-phoenix-is-beautifully-suited/|title=Joaquin Phoenix Brings Anti-Wool Message to Columbus|work=[[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals|PETA]]|date=September 23, 2016|access-date=May 12, 2021|archive-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512175450/https://www.peta.org/features/joaquin-phoenix-is-beautifully-suited/|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite web| url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/vegan/joaquin-phoenix-vegan-ambassador-1003699.html| title=10 Times Joaquin Phoenix has been a fine ambassador for veganism| website=Female First| date=October 28, 2016| access-date=June 13, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718153836/http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/vegan/joaquin-phoenix-vegan-ambassador-1003699.html| archive-date=July 18, 2017| url-status=live}}</ref> Phoenix has said that animal rights are one of the most important pillars in his life, and maintains that "climate change is imminent if we do not adopt a plant-based lifestyle".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://plantbasednews.org/culture/film/joaquin-phoenix-discusses-cow-rescue-and-reunion-in-short-film/|title=Joaquin Phoenix Documentary Details Slaughterhouse Cow Rescue And Impact Of Animal Agriculture|work=Plant Based News|first=Emily|last=Baker|date=April 21, 2021|access-date=May 23, 2021|archive-date=April 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428030943/https://plantbasednews.org/culture/film/joaquin-phoenix-discusses-cow-rescue-and-reunion-in-short-film/|url-status=live}}</ref> He has helped raise awareness of the correlation between animal rights, climate change and health issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vegnews.com/2020/10/joaquin-phoenix-on-veganism-the-environment-and-social-justice-a-vegnews-exclusive-interview|title=JOAQUIN PHOENIX ON VEGANISM, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE: A VEGNEWS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW|work=[[VegNews]]|first=Jasmin|last=Singer|date=October 15, 2020|access-date=May 23, 2021|archive-date=July 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718123938/https://vegnews.com/2020/10/joaquin-phoenix-on-veganism-the-environment-and-social-justice-a-vegnews-exclusive-interview|url-status=live}}</ref>

Phoenix has received praise and accolades from animal rights groups, with [[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals|PETA]] naming him "Person of the Year" in 2019. PETA's president, [[Ingrid Newkirk]] said in a statement: "Joaquin Phoenix never misses an opportunity to turn the spotlight away from himself and onto animals' plight and to set a great example of walking the vegan walk".<ref name=petapersonoftheyear>{{cite news| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/joaquin-phoenix-named-peta-person-year-1258635| title=Joaquin Phoenix Named PETA Person of the Year (Exclusive)| first=Etan| last=Vlessing| newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter| language=en| date=December 2, 2019| access-date=December 2, 2019| archive-date=September 22, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922153132/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/joaquin-phoenix-named-peta-person-year-1258635| url-status=live}}</ref> He has been an active supporter of numerous animal rights organizations, including PETA.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.peta.org/features/joaquin-phoenix-is-beautifully-suited/|title=Joaquin Phoenix Brings Anti-Wool Message to Columbus|work=[[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals|PETA]]|date=September 23, 2016|access-date=May 12, 2021|archive-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512175450/https://www.peta.org/features/joaquin-phoenix-is-beautifully-suited/|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Quote box
| width = 25%
| align = right
| quote = "We go into the natural world, and we plunder it for its resources. We feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow, and when she gives birth, we steal her baby, even though her cries of anguish are unmistakable. Then we take her milk that's intended for her calf, and we put it in our coffee and our cereal. And I think we fear the idea of personal change because we think that we have to sacrifice something, to give something up, but human beings, at our best, are so inventive and creative and ingenious. And I think that when we use love and compassion as our guiding principles, we can create, develop and implement systems of change that are beneficial to all sentient beings and to the environment."
| source = {{mdash}}Phoenix during his acceptance speech at the [[92nd Academy Awards|2020 Academy Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/transcript-joaquin-phoenixs-speech-at-2020-oscars-1278278/|title=Oscars: Read Joaquin Phoenix's Best Actor Speech|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|first=Christy|last=Piña|date=February 9, 2020|access-date=May 23, 2021|archive-date=September 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904225044/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/transcript-joaquin-phoenixs-speech-at-2020-oscars-1278278/|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
Throughout the years, Phoenix has headlined numerous campaigns for different organizations to help promote veganism and end animal slaughter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/pets/joaquin-phoenix-peta-new-vegan-campaign/|title=Joaquin Phoenix Encourages Animal Lovers to 'Change the World From Your Kitchen' by Going Vegan|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|first=Kelli|last=Bender|date=August 24, 2020|access-date=May 23, 2021|archive-date=August 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803185138/https://people.com/pets/joaquin-phoenix-peta-new-vegan-campaign/|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite web|url=https://www.peta.org/media/psa/joaquin-phoenix-drowns/|title=Joaquin Phoenix: Drowns|work=[[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals|PETA]]|date=February 11, 2013|access-date=May 23, 2021|archive-date=May 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523105316/https://www.peta.org/media/psa/joaquin-phoenix-drowns/|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite web|url=https://www.peta.org/features/joaquin-dog-leather-video/|title=Joaquin Phoenix Shares Disturbing Video|work=[[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals|PETA]]|date=February 23, 2015|access-date=May 23, 2021|archive-date=May 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523105317/https://www.peta.org/features/joaquin-dog-leather-video/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, Phoenix and his partner [[Rooney Mara]] led the National Animal Rights Day demonstration to help spread awareness for animal rights.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/joaquin-phoenix-and-rooney-mara-carry-dead-animals-in-protest-142315094.html|title=Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara carry dead animals in protest|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]|first=Hanna|last=Flint|date=June 4, 2019|access-date=May 23, 2021|archive-date=May 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523105334/https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/joaquin-phoenix-and-rooney-mara-carry-dead-animals-in-protest-142315094.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On January 10, 2020, Phoenix was arrested with actress [[Jane Fonda]] at a climate change protest outside the [[United States Capitol]] in Washington, D.C. At the protest, Phoenix spoke about the link between [[Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture|animal agriculture and climate change]].<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/joaquin-phoenix-martin-sheen-among-those-arrested-as-jane-fonda-leads-final-d-c-climate-protest-1202826701/| title=Joaquin Phoenix, Martin Sheen Among Those Arrested As Jane Fonda Leads Final D.C. Climate Protest| last=Johnson| first=Ted| magazine=Deadline Hollywood| date=January 10, 2020| access-date=January 10, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110210319/https://deadline.com/2020/01/joaquin-phoenix-martin-sheen-among-those-arrested-as-jane-fonda-leads-final-d-c-climate-protest-1202826701/| archive-date=January 10, 2020| url-status=live}}</ref>

Phoenix has also been vocal in drawing attention to the suffering of fish, which he sees as a neglected cause in the sphere of animal rights. Fish, says Phoenix, are the "last thing besides insects that people don’t really consider".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vegnews.com/joaquin-phoenix-on-veganism-the-environment-and-social-justice-a-vegnews-exclusive-interview/|title=Joaquin Phoenix on Veganism, the Environment, and Social Justice: A VegNews Exclusive Interview|work=[[VegNews]]|first=Jasmin|last=Singer|date=October 28, 2022|access-date=Dec 22, 2024}}</ref> Phoenix's views were shaped by a childhood incident in which he saw fish brutally flung against the side of the boat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vegnews.com/joaquin-phoenix-on-veganism-the-environment-and-social-justice-a-vegnews-exclusive-interview/|title=Joaquin Phoenix on Veganism, the Environment, and Social Justice: A VegNews Exclusive Interview|work=[[VegNews]]|first=Jasmin|last=Singer|date=October 28, 2022|access-date=Dec 22, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.peta.org/features/joaquin-phoenix-drowning/|title=Joaquin Phoenix is 'Drowning'|work=[[PETA]]|date=2013|access-date=Dec 22, 2024}}</ref> In 2013, he simulated drowning in a 41-second [[PETA]] spot, designed to dramatise how fish suffer in the final moments of their lives. The video was shot by photographer Michael Muller.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.peta.org/features/joaquin-phoenix-drowning/|title=Joaquin Phoenix is 'Drowning'|work=[[PETA]]|date=2013|access-date=Dec 22, 2024}}></ref>     

During the 2019–20 [[Film awards seasons|awards season]], amid protesting for animal rights, Phoenix had been driving a behind-the-scenes movement that transformed five events to meat-free menus, beginning with the [[Golden Globe Awards]]. He acknowledged the [[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]] during his acceptance speech, for its "very bold move making tonight plant-based. It really sends a powerful message." Soon after, [[Critics' Choice Movie Awards|Critics' Choice]] and [[Screen Actors Guild Awards|SAG]] followed suit. Phoenix contacted the presidents of the award ceremonies, accompanied by signatures from the likes of fellow nominees [[Leonardo DiCaprio]] and [[Phoebe Waller-Bridge]]. Phoenix's pitch was that meat agriculture is a leading cause of climate change and that the televised spectacles should use their platforms to address pressing societal issues. The [[Academy Awards]] later announced that all food served at the [[Dolby Theatre]] before the Oscars was going to be vegan. Lisa Lange, Senior Vice President of Communications at PETA, spoke of Phoenix's power saying "He knows what can be done. He knows he's in a good position to push. He enlists friends. And it works. He can have influence in Hollywood and it influences the rest of the world."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/how-joaquin-phoenix-vegan-ized-awards-season-1275760/|title=How Joaquin Phoenix Vegan-ized Awards Season Behind the Scenes|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|first=Gary|last=Baum|date=February 4, 2020|access-date=May 23, 2021|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722000453/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/how-joaquin-phoenix-vegan-ized-awards-season-1275760/|url-status=live}}</ref>

A day after winning the [[Academy Award for Best Actor]], and subsequently delivering a headlining acceptance speech in which he spoke to the plight of mother cows and their babies used in animal agriculture, Phoenix helped to rescue a cow and her newborn calf from a Los Angeles slaughterhouse. They were taken to [[Farm Sanctuary]], an animal sanctuary and advocacy organization, where they will live out the rest of their lives.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.farmsanctuary.org/news-stories/joaquin-phoenix-rescues-cow-calf/|title=Joaquin Phoenix Rescues Mother Cow and Newborn Calf Day after Academy Awards Win|work=[[Farm Sanctuary]]|date=February 21, 2020|access-date=May 23, 2021|archive-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814135839/https://www.farmsanctuary.org/news-stories/joaquin-phoenix-rescues-cow-calf/|url-status=live}}</ref> The same month, he starred in ''Guardians of Life'', the first of twelve short films by the environmental organization [[Mobilize Earth]] that highlighted the most pressing issues facing humanity and the natural world. Funds raised by the project went to [[Amazon Watch]] and [[Extinction Rebellion]].<ref name="Reuters 6 Feb 2020">{{cite news| last=Green| first=Matthew| title='Joker' star Phoenix takes aim at climate apathy with film about dying Earth| website=[[Reuters]]| date=February 6, 2020| url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-climate-change-film-phoenix/joker-star-phoenix-takes-aim-at-climate-apathy-with-film-about-dying-earth-idUKKBN2001YU| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207133655/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-climate-change-film-phoenix/joker-star-phoenix-takes-aim-at-climate-apathy-with-film-about-dying-earth-idUKKBN2001YU| archive-date=February 7, 2020| url-status=dead| access-date=February 7, 2020}}</ref> Dávid Szőke and Sándor Kiss in [[Film International]] were highly critical of this move, arguing that "what is rather mind-boggling is that the discourse centers less on the issue of the calf and its mother or the exploitation of our natural world, and more on Phoenix in the leading role as the savior of our planet, raising questions about the narrative’s alignment with his environmental activism."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://filmint.nu/jack-cooper-stimpsons-extinction-and-shaun-monsons-guardians-of-life-2020-david-szoke-and-sandor-kiss/|title=Environmental Action in Opposite Directions: Extinction (2019) and Guardians of Life (2020)|last1=Szőke|first1= Dávid|last2=Kiss|first2=Sándor|date=February 18, 2024|work=Film International|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219065739/http://filmint.nu/jack-cooper-stimpsons-extinction-and-shaun-monsons-guardians-of-life-2020-david-szoke-and-sandor-kiss/|archive-date=February 19, 2024|access-date=February 19, 2024}}</ref>

Two animal species have been named after him. In 2011, a [[trilobite]] species was named ''Gladiatoria phoenix'' for his iconic role in the 2000 film [[Gladiator (2000 film)|''Gladiator'']], and in 2020, a spider species endemic to Iran was named ''[[Loureedia phoenixi]]'' (also known as the Joker spider) due to its color pattern matching the DC Comics character [[Joker (character)|Joker]], for his role in the 2019 film ''[[Joker (2019 film)|Joker]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Adrain|first1=Jonathan M.|last2=McAdams|first2=Neo E.B.|last3=Westrop|first3=Stephen R.|year=2011|title=Affinities of the Lower Ordovician (Tulean; lower Floian) trilobite ''Gladiatoria'', with species from the Great Basin, western United States|journal=Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists|volume=42|pages=321–367|url=https://myweb.uiowa.edu/jadrain/resources/Adrainetal2011b.pdf|access-date=April 16, 2021|archive-date=April 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416112718/https://myweb.uiowa.edu/jadrain/resources/Adrainetal2011b.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first1=A. |last1=Zamani |first2=Y.M. |last2=Marusik |year=2020 |title=A new and easternmost species of ''Loureedia'' (Aranei: Eresidae) from Iran |journal=Arthropoda Selecta |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=239–243 |doi=10.15298/arthsel.29.2.09 |doi-access=free |url=https://kmkjournals.com/upload/PDF/ArthropodaSelecta/29/29_2_239_243_Zamani_Marusik_for_Inet.pdf |access-date=April 24, 2021 |archive-date=April 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423222716/https://kmkjournals.com/upload/PDF/ArthropodaSelecta/29/29_2_239_243_Zamani_Marusik_for_Inet.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Weisberger|first=Mindy|date=June 2020|title=Scientists discover spider wearing 'Joker' makeup, name it after Joaquin Phoenix|url=https://www.livescience.com/joker-spider-joaquin-phoenix.html|access-date=June 30, 2020|website=livescience.com|archive-date=June 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629233821/https://www.livescience.com/joker-spider-joaquin-phoenix.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Other activism===
In 2020, Phoenix collaborated with [[JusticeLA]] to create a public service announcement #SuingToSaveLives about the health of people in L.A. County jails amid the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Moniuszko|first=Sara M.|title=Natalie Portman, Gabrielle Union and Joaquin Phoenix join all-star PSA for jail reform amid COVID-19|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/09/24/gabrielle-union-natalie-portman-join-covid-psa-jail-reform/3518083001/|access-date=June 16, 2021|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US|archive-date=June 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628051132/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/09/24/gabrielle-union-natalie-portman-join-covid-psa-jail-reform/3518083001/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Perez|first=Lexy|date=September 24, 2020|title=Natalie Portman, Gabrielle Union, Joaquin Phoenix Lead #SuingToSaveLives PSA for COVID-19 Response Coalition (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/natalie-portman-gabrielle-union-joaquin-phoenix-lead-suingtosavelives-psa-for-covid-19-response-coalition-4066236/|access-date=June 16, 2021|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US|archive-date=June 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627194209/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/natalie-portman-gabrielle-union-joaquin-phoenix-lead-suingtosavelives-psa-for-covid-19-response-coalition-4066236/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2023, Phoenix signed an open letter by artists to President [[Joe Biden]] calling for a ceasefire during the [[Gaza war]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Celebrities call for ceasefire, decry civilian deaths: Hollywood reacts to Israel-Hamas war |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2023/10/16/israeli-palestinian-conflict-celebrity-reactions/71206600007/ |work=USA Today |date=October 16, 2023}}</ref> The letter reads: "We believe all life is sacred, no matter faith or ethnicity and we condemn the killing of Palestinian and Israeli civilians."<ref>{{cite news |title=Hollywood stars urge Biden to push for ceasefire in Israel-Hamas war |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/21/hollywood-stars-urge-biden-to-push-for-ceasefire-in-israel-hamas-war |work=Al Jazeera |date=October 21, 2023}}</ref> In May 2025, Phoenix was one of 370 Hollywood figures to sign an open letter condemning the film industry for its "silence" on the [[Gaza genocide]] and Israel's killing of [[Fatma Hassona]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2025/film/global/joaquin-phoenix-juliette-binoche-riz-ahmed-sign-gaza-leter-1236399215/|title=Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Juliette Binoche, Riz Ahmed and Guillermo del Toro Among Additional Names to Sign Open Letter Condemning Industry Silence Over Gaza (EXCLUSIVE)|last=Ritman|first=Alex|date=May 15, 2025|work=Variety}}</ref>