14 DAY TRIAL // The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is no stranger to creating a controversy but, this time, it might have gone a bit too far, loud voices in the blogosphere and the media are saying. For its latest anti-fur campaign, PETA has chosen none other than First Lady Michelle Obama as a spokesperson. The problem is, it didn’t ask her if she wanted the job, USA Today informs.
Usually, celebrities are more than happy to lend their voice to a good cause, which is also how PETA managed to gain plenty of exposure in recent years. However, for the latest anti-fur campaign, the group did not ask the highest profile figure in it for permission and, instead, just went ahead and used a White House official photo for it. Next to Michelle Obama, stand proud Carrie Underwood, Oprah Winfrey and Tyra Banks, yet other stars who have never been photographed wearing fur in public.
“First Lady Michelle Obama doesn’t wear fur, but her office isn’t crazy about the fact that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is now advertising that choice. Mrs. Obama is pictured along with anti-fur celebs Oprah Winfrey, Carrie Underwood, and Tyra Banks in an ad now adorning the walls of Washington area subway stations,” the aforementioned publication says.
A spokesperson for the White House has already confirmed for the media that the use of the photo by PETA has not been approved before the ad was made public. On the other hand, it could very well be that the group did not ask for permission because it simply did not want to, considering Mrs. Obama perfect for the campaign for the simple fact that she does not wear fur. At least, that’s what one may infer from a statement coming from PETA.
PETA did not “ask the White House to fund or promote the campaign, as they can’t do such things,” a rep says for USA Today. “But, the fact is that Michelle Obama has issued a statement indicating that she doesn’t wear fur, and the world should know that in PETA’s eyes, that makes her pretty fabulous,” the spokesperson goes on to say.