PETA links the deadly Logan Circle shooting to a nearby restaurant's foie gras dinner, then deletes the post and says José Andrés was twisting it
After a deadly shooting in Logan Circle on November 12, 2026, PETA posted that Mallard, a restaurant down the block, was holding a foie gras dinner that night. José Andrés and others objected, and PETA deleted the post while defending it.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
D.C. voters approved Initiative 86 in the November 3, 2026, election. It bans force-feeding birds and the sale of products from force-fed birds, including foie gras, and restaurants may keep serving foie gras until it takes effect in July 2027. Mallard, a restaurant on 14th Street NW in Logan Circle, scheduled a foie gras dinner for November 12 as part of a supper series. The animal-protection group Animal Outlook sent it a cease-and-desist letter over advertising that described the foie gras as coming from humanely raised ducks, and Mallard removed that wording. PETA, whose Washington office is a few blocks from the restaurant, had planned a protest outside Mallard on November 12 and says it canceled the protest after the shooting. Andrés, a Washington chef and restaurateur, had warned before the vote that the ban would be an unnecessary burden on restaurants. Police said the gunman later killed himself; reports say he was in a dispute with his condominium building over water damage.
People in this case
José AndrésDirectly involved
Ingrid NewkirkDirectly involved
Timeline
5 timeline entries on this page. Dates: November 3, 2026 to November 12, 2026
November 2026
D.C. voters approve a ban on foie gras sales
D.C. voters approve Initiative 86, which bans force-feeding birds and the sale of products from force-fed birds, including foie gras. Restaurants may keep serving the dish until the ban takes effect the following July.
[01]FOX 5 DC: Animal rights group targets DC restaurant over 'humane' foie gras claim as ban looms
FOX 5 DC report on Animal Outlook's cease-and-desist letter to Mallard over its foie gras supper series, and on the D.C. ballot measure banning foie gras sales.
FOX 5 DC: Animal rights group targets DC restaurant over 'humane' foie gras claim as ban loomsArticle text, as published on fox5dc.com[02]People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
PETA news release carrying Ingrid Newkirk's statement on Mallard's foie gras dinner and Jose Andres, with background on D.C. Initiative 86.
PETA statement: Shame! Defiant Anti-Ban Foie Gras Dinner Went Ahead Despite PETA Appeal to Respect Shooting Victims, Our Mutual Neighbors · People for the Ethical Treatment of AnimalsNews release, November 13, 2026Animal Outlook demands that Mallard cancel its foie gras supper series
FOX 5 DC reports that Animal Outlook has sent Mallard a cease-and-desist letter over advertising that said its foie gras came from humanely raised ducks. Mallard removed the claim, and the group asks it to cancel the supper series.
[01]FOX 5 DC: Animal rights group targets DC restaurant over 'humane' foie gras claim as ban looms
FOX 5 DC report on Animal Outlook's cease-and-desist letter to Mallard over its foie gras supper series, and on the D.C. ballot measure banning foie gras sales.
FOX 5 DC: Animal rights group targets DC restaurant over 'humane' foie gras claim as ban loomsArticle text, as published on fox5dc.comA gunman kills one person and wounds four in Logan Circle
Incident
A gunman shoots five people at and near the VIDA Fitness gym in Logan Circle, killing one, and later kills himself in his apartment in the same building, D.C. police say.
[03]City Cast DC: PETA Social Post Used VIDA Shooting to Slam Foie Gras
City Cast DC report on PETA's post about the shooting and Mallard, the deleted replies to news outlets, the criticism from Jose Andres and others, PETA's explanation, and the police account of the shooting.
City Cast DC: PETA Social Post Used VIDA Shooting to Slam Foie GrasArticle text, as published on dc.citycast.fm[04]New York Post: PETA slammed for using horrific DC shooting to protest sale of foie gras at nearby restaurant
New York Post report on PETA's post tying the Logan Circle shooting to Mallard's foie gras dinner, the criticism from Jose Andres, Jacqui Heinrich and Yashar Ali, and PETA's follow-up post after it deleted the original.
New York Post: PETA slammed for using horrific DC shooting to protest sale of foie gras at nearby restaurantArticle text, as published on nypost.comPETA ties the shooting to Mallard's foie gras dinner on X, then deletes the post
Claim
PETA posts on X that the shooting happened down the block from Mallard, which is planning a foie gras dinner that night, and suggests the restaurant show its neighbors the consideration it has refused to show ducks. It posts the same message under news outlets' coverage of the shooting and takes the post down within a few hours.
[04]New York Post: PETA slammed for using horrific DC shooting to protest sale of foie gras at nearby restaurant
New York Post report on PETA's post tying the Logan Circle shooting to Mallard's foie gras dinner, the criticism from Jose Andres, Jacqui Heinrich and Yashar Ali, and PETA's follow-up post after it deleted the original.
New York Post: PETA slammed for using horrific DC shooting to protest sale of foie gras at nearby restaurantArticle text, as published on nypost.com[03]City Cast DC: PETA Social Post Used VIDA Shooting to Slam Foie Gras
City Cast DC report on PETA's post about the shooting and Mallard, the deleted replies to news outlets, the criticism from Jose Andres and others, PETA's explanation, and the police account of the shooting.
City Cast DC: PETA Social Post Used VIDA Shooting to Slam Foie GrasArticle text, as published on dc.citycast.fmMallard keeps its foie gras dinner on the schedule
A receptionist at Mallard tells City Cast DC that the foie gras dinner is still on for that night. The restaurant does not respond to requests for comment, and PETA later says the dinner went ahead.
[03]City Cast DC: PETA Social Post Used VIDA Shooting to Slam Foie Gras
City Cast DC report on PETA's post about the shooting and Mallard, the deleted replies to news outlets, the criticism from Jose Andres and others, PETA's explanation, and the police account of the shooting.
City Cast DC: PETA Social Post Used VIDA Shooting to Slam Foie GrasArticle text, as published on dc.citycast.fm[02]People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
PETA news release carrying Ingrid Newkirk's statement on Mallard's foie gras dinner and Jose Andres, with background on D.C. Initiative 86.
PETA statement: Shame! Defiant Anti-Ban Foie Gras Dinner Went Ahead Despite PETA Appeal to Respect Shooting Victims, Our Mutual Neighbors · People for the Ethical Treatment of AnimalsNews release, November 13, 2026
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
5 responses. Newest first.
Ingrid NewkirkFounder of PETA, in a PETA statementDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Mallard went ahead with its foie gras dinner on the night of the shooting.
"Shame on José Andrés and Mallard restaurant, one block from the DC shooting. Out of respect for our mutual close neighbors affected by horrific violence just blocks away, PETA canceled its protest outside Mallard and appealed to the restaurant to cancel its foie gras dinner, too. Mallard showed its true colors by going ahead with a dinner celebrating defiance of DC voters’ decision to ban foie gras, while foie gras defender José Andrés attacked us for asking for that consideration."
Defended or excusedCase context: PETA links the deadly Logan Circle shooting to a nearby restaurant's foie gras dinner, then deletes the post and says José Andrés was twisting it
Full statement and sources
Newkirk shames Andrés and Mallard, says PETA canceled its protest and asked the restaurant to cancel its foie gras dinner out of respect for neighbors affected by the shooting, and says Andrés attacked PETA for asking for that consideration.
After the statement
The statement says ducks and geese used for foie gras are force-fed and calls celebrating foie gras a celebration of violence.
PETA statement: Shame! Defiant Anti-Ban Foie Gras Dinner Went Ahead Despite PETA Appeal to Respect Shooting Victims, Our Mutual Neighbors · People for the Ethical Treatment of AnimalsNews release, November 13, 2026Why this label?
Newkirk recasts PETA's post as an appeal for consideration toward the shooting's neighbors and faults Andrés for attacking it, which defends the post.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Michael SchafferExecutive editor and co-host of City Cast DC, writing in its newsletter Before this statement
The newsletter opened with an account of the shooting at the VIDA Fitness gym in Logan Circle.
"And the award for most tone-deaf statement about yesterday’s mass shooting goes to … PETA, which used the incident to slam a nearby eatery that had scheduled a foie gras meal for last night."
CondemnedCase context: PETA links the deadly Logan Circle shooting to a nearby restaurant's foie gras dinner, then deletes the post and says José Andrés was twisting it
Full statement and sources
In City Cast DC's newsletter, Schaffer gives PETA the award for the most tone-deaf statement about the shooting, saying the group used it to slam a nearby restaurant's foie gras meal.
After the statement
Schaffer notes that José Andrés told PETA it should be ashamed and that the post had been deleted by the end of the day.
City Cast DC newsletter, November 13, 2026: Horror in Logan CircleNewsletter item "PETA Ponders P Street"Why this label?
Schaffer calls PETA's post the most tone-deaf statement about the shooting and says the group used the incident to slam a restaurant, which condemns the post.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
People for the Ethical Treatment of AnimalsAnimal rights organization, official X accountDirectly involvedBefore this statement
PETA had deleted its post tying the shooting to Mallard after José Andrés and others criticized it.
"We canceled a protest scheduled today in front of Mallard restaurant for its despicable sale of foie gras out of respect for the victims of the shooting, and in our tweet, we were calling on the restaurant to help eliminate violence by pulling the cruel item from its menu. We took down our tweet because people who support and take part in the violent killing of ducks and geese for foie gras, like Chef Jose Andres, were twisting it, yet we encourage everyone to remember that it is possible to care about more than one thing at a time and to respect all life."
Defended or excusedCase context: PETA links the deadly Logan Circle shooting to a nearby restaurant's foie gras dinner, then deletes the post and says José Andrés was twisting it
Full statement and sources
PETA says it canceled its protest at Mallard out of respect for the shooting victims, that its post called on the restaurant to help eliminate violence by dropping foie gras, and that it took the post down because foie gras supporters such as Andrés were twisting it.
After the statement
Nicole Meyer, a PETA senior media officer, gave City Cast DC the same explanation.
PETA on X: The shooting this morning in DC was in PETA's neighborhood · People for the Ethical Treatment of AnimalsPost on X, November 12, 2026, replying to Jacqui HeinrichNew York Post: PETA slammed for using horrific DC shooting to protest sale of foie gras at nearby restaurantArticle text, as published on nypost.comCity Cast DC: PETA Social Post Used VIDA Shooting to Slam Foie GrasArticle text, as published on dc.citycast.fmWhy this label?
PETA explains the deleted post as a call to end violence, says critics twisted it and asks people to care about more than one thing at a time, which defends the post rather than retracting it.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
José AndrésChef and founder of World Central Kitchen, posting on XDirectly involvedBefore this statement
PETA had posted that the shooting happened down the block from Mallard restaurant, which was planning a foie gras dinner that night.
"You should be so ashamed of this tweet……People dead and injured and you tweet this?"
CondemnedCase context: PETA links the deadly Logan Circle shooting to a nearby restaurant's foie gras dinner, then deletes the post and says José Andrés was twisting it
Full statement and sources
Andrés responds to PETA's post linking the Logan Circle shooting to Mallard's foie gras dinner by saying the group should be ashamed to post it while people were dead and injured.
After the statement
PETA took its post down later that day and said people like Andrés were twisting it.
Jose Andres on X: You should be so ashamed of this tweetPost on X, November 12, 2026New York Post: PETA slammed for using horrific DC shooting to protest sale of foie gras at nearby restaurantArticle text, as published on nypost.comCity Cast DC: PETA Social Post Used VIDA Shooting to Slam Foie GrasArticle text, as published on dc.citycast.fmWhy this label?
Andrés says PETA should be ashamed of the post and asks how it could post this with people dead and injured, which condemns the post.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Yashar AliJournalist, posting on X Before this statement
PETA had posted on X that the shooting happened down the block from Mallard restaurant, which was planning a foie gras dinner that night.
"There is something deeply wrong with this organization."
CondemnedCase context: PETA links the deadly Logan Circle shooting to a nearby restaurant's foie gras dinner, then deletes the post and says José Andrés was twisting it
Full statement and sources
Ali shares a screenshot of PETA's post about the shooting and Mallard's foie gras dinner and says there is something deeply wrong with the organization.
After the statement
PETA deleted its post later that day.
Yashar Ali on X: There is something deeply wrong with this organizationPost on X, November 12, 2026, with a screenshot of PETA's postNew York Post: PETA slammed for using horrific DC shooting to protest sale of foie gras at nearby restaurantArticle text, as published on nypost.comWhy this label?
Ali posts PETA's message with his own verdict that something is deeply wrong with the group, a direct criticism of PETA for the post.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(8)
Reporting
New York Post: PETA slammed for using horrific DC shooting to protest sale of foie gras at nearby restaurant
Relevant passage: Article text, as published on nypost.com
About this source
New York Post report on PETA's post tying the Logan Circle shooting to Mallard's foie gras dinner, the criticism from Jose Andres, Jacqui Heinrich and Yashar Ali, and PETA's follow-up post after it deleted the original.
- Author
- Victor Nava
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
FOX 5 DC: Animal rights group targets DC restaurant over 'humane' foie gras claim as ban looms
Relevant passage: Article text, as published on fox5dc.com
About this source
FOX 5 DC report on Animal Outlook's cease-and-desist letter to Mallard over its foie gras supper series, and on the D.C. ballot measure banning foie gras sales.
- Author
- Homa Bash
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
PETA on X: The shooting this morning in DC was in PETA's neighborhood
About this source
PETA's explanation after it deleted its post tying the shooting to Mallard's foie gras dinner, posted as a reply to Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich.
- Author
- PETA (@peta)
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Yashar Ali on X: There is something deeply wrong with this organization
About this source
Yashar Ali's post sharing a screenshot of PETA's post about the shooting and Mallard's foie gras dinner.
- Author
- Yashar Ali (@yashar)
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Jose Andres on X: You should be so ashamed of this tweet
About this source
Andres's quote post responding to PETA's post about the Logan Circle shooting and Mallard's foie gras dinner. PETA later deleted the post he quoted.
- Author
- Chef José Andrés (@chefjoseandres)
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
PETA statement: Shame! Defiant Anti-Ban Foie Gras Dinner Went Ahead Despite PETA Appeal to Respect Shooting Victims, Our Mutual Neighbors
Relevant passage: News release, November 13, 2026
About this source
PETA news release carrying Ingrid Newkirk's statement on Mallard's foie gras dinner and Jose Andres, with background on D.C. Initiative 86.
- Author
- PETA
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
City Cast DC newsletter, November 13, 2026: Horror in Logan Circle
Relevant passage: Newsletter item "PETA Ponders P Street"
About this source
Michael Schaffer's City Cast DC newsletter for November 13, 2026, with an account of the Logan Circle shooting and an item on PETA's post about Mallard.
- Author
- Michael Schaffer
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
City Cast DC: PETA Social Post Used VIDA Shooting to Slam Foie Gras
Relevant passage: Article text, as published on dc.citycast.fm
About this source
City Cast DC report on PETA's post about the shooting and Mallard, the deleted replies to news outlets, the criticism from Jose Andres and others, PETA's explanation, and the police account of the shooting.
- Author
- Kaela Cote-Stemmermann
- Published
- Accessed
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Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- PETA links the deadly Logan Circle shooting to a nearby restaurant's foie gras dinner, then deletes the post and says José Andrés was twisting it
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/peta-logan-circle-shooting-mallard-foie-gras-post-jose-andres
The Dispute Index. "PETA links the deadly Logan Circle shooting to a nearby restaurant's foie gras dinner, then deletes the post and says José Andrés was twisting it". First published: 2026-11-14. Last updated: 2026-11-14. https://disputeindex.com/cases/peta-logan-circle-shooting-mallard-foie-gras-post-jose-andres