People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has confessed in a statement that their anti Tanooki suit campaign was in fact just a joke. Clearly they managed to troll quite a few people including a variety of mainstream news outlets.

Mario fans: Relax! PETA’s game was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, a fun way to call attention to a serious issue, that raccoon dogs are skinned alive for their fur. We wish real-life tanukis could fly or swat enemies away with their tails and escape from those who profit from their skins. You can help them by never buying real fur.