PETA shredded for Kaepernick-themed Super Bowl ad the group claims was rejected by the NFL

PETA was mocked for a Colin Kaepernick-themed Super Bowl ad the animal rights organization said the NFL rejected. PETA was mocked for a Colin Kaepernick-themed Super Bowl ad the animal rights organization said the NFL rejected. Photo: Twitter Photo: Twitter Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close PETA shredded for Kaepernick-themed Super Bowl ad the group claims was rejected by the NFL 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

Animal rights organization PETA is under fire after claiming the group's Colin Kaepernick-inspired Super Bowl advertisement was rejected by FOX and the NFL because the message was "too daring."

The animated, minute-long advertisement features several animals taking a knee while "The Star Spangled Banner" plays in the background, and ends with the text, "Respect is the right of every living being. #EndSpeciesism."

"Speciesism—like any form of discrimination—is a supremacist worldview," PETA wrote in a news release explaining the situation. "It allows humans to disrespect other living, feeling beings and to treat their interests as unimportant."

According to PETA, the NFL "apparently found our new Colin Kaepernick–inspired ad—with its message of inclusion and respect—too daring and pressured FOX to snub our commercial."

FOX and the NFL have not commented publicly on PETA's allegations.

SPONSORED: Watch the Super Bowl for free with fuboTV (7-day free trial)

PETA tweeted a video of the advertisement and its statement, and was subsequently mocked not only by meat eaters, but also by vegetarians and social justice enthusiasts.

"One of my tinfoil hat-iest suspicions is that PETA is secretly run by the factory farming industry in order to make the perfectly logical and healthy dietary choice of vegetarianism look ridiculous," one user tweeted.

"How y’all take a gesture that’s symbolic of black Americans’ fight against police brutality, apply it to animals & think it’s a good idea???" tweeted another.

Others pointed to parts of the advertisement that make no sense, such as how it is even possible for a fish to "take a knee."

Click through the slideshow above to see reactions to the PETA Super Bowl advertisement.

More Super Bowl coverage:

Joe Montana explains why he isn't too 'involved' with the 49ers and the NFL anymore

NFL said no to big 49ers Super Bowl viewing party in the Bay Area

49ers rewarded with patience with Ward, Armstead

Trump's Super Bowl LIV preview is incredibly generic and everyone has jokes

Eric Ting is an SFGATE digital reporter. Email: eric.ting@sfgate.com | Twitter:@_ericting