Singer says animal rights group is being hypocritical

May 15, 2010 09:29 GMT  ·  By
Kelis and her Russian fur hat are criticized by PETA, singer couldn’t possibly care less
   Kelis and her Russian fur hat are criticized by PETA, singer couldn’t possibly care less

PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) has long made a tradition of picking on and publicly shaming celebrities who wear fur. It recently chose singer Kelis as a target of such an attack, sending an angry letter to her condemning her for coming out in public literally draped in fur. Kelis’ answer is in the video below, which is actually an interview with MTV and is none too subtle about what she makes of the whole PETA campaign.

Last time PETA publicly admonished a celebrity was when socialite and television personality Kim Kardashian posted a photo on her Twitter page holding a kitten by the skin on the nape of its neck. Kelis’ offense was that much more serious, as the singer, never the one to shy from a controversy or good old-fashioned dispute, stepped out for dinner wearing leather pants, a fur coat and a fur Russian hat. This prompted the very vocal when it comes to such issues group to chide her for her fashion choices.

The only problem is, Kelis doesn’t give two pennies on what PETA makes of her fashion, as she puts it for MTV. If she had her way, she’d put fur on her walls and even then she wouldn’t care about PETA, says the self-titled convinced carnivore. Kelis explains that, just as she respects other people’s choice of becoming a vegan and not wearing fur, she should get the same treatment, especially for PETA, a group of people who neither know her nor have any right to hold her accountable for anything.

“I got a letter from PETA about this, which is strange, because I’ve worn way more fur than I had on this day. But for some reason, they figured they were going to mention it, which was stupid. I honestly, I mean, this was a pretty regular day. [Laughing.] It was freezing, first of all… I love that hat, I bought in Russia… I wrote back to PETA because I feel like ‘Who on earth are you to tell me about what I wear?’” Kelis says.

“Quite frankly, I find them completely hypocritical, and I was reading something about how they euthanize 97% of the cats and dogs and animals that are brought to them. Just, completely hypocritical. I think anyone who feels the need to protest about someone else… it’s just completely insane to me… I couldn’t care less about what they think of me and my fur hat. I just find it funny that this is the photo, the day… I mean, I would have fur walls if I could. I’m a complete carnivore. And people who don’t wear it and don’t want to, it’s fine. I don’t have any judgments about them,” the singer further says.

Below is the video with Kelis’ response to PETA’s criticism. Enjoy.