Do the Celebrity Models Behind 'Ink, Not Mink' PETA Ads Really Oppose Fur?
Singer Mario Gives Shout Out to Mink Coats
If I was on the fence about buying his CD before, I was definitely going to purchase it now. And so I did. And not long after, that's when I saw his Twitter message saying, "Shout out to all my nigs walkin out the club wit [sic] the Minks!! Shit, at least u warm!" I sold the CD the same day I saw that tweet.
According to PETA's 'Ink, Not Mink' description, "Every year, millions of animals such as rabbits, foxes, chinchillas, seals, and even dogs and cats are killed for their fur. There's nothing fashionable or beautiful about wearing someone else's skin."
PETA also explains that the celebrities who were chosen for the 'Ink, Not Mink' ads spoke out against animal cruelty. But judging from Mario's opinion during a photo shoot with PETA as opposed to his opinion on Twitter, I wonder are all of these celebrities speaking out against animal cruelty for dead presidents or do they believe in the cause.
I know PETA has had to explain itself many times for some of their more controversial ads, but I've never questioned their loyalty to helping animals. However, ever since that Mario ad, I look side-eyed every time I see an 'Ink, Not Mink' ad. Hopefully they'll have disclosure forms with future PETA models clarifying that they have to truly believe in the cause. Otherwise it's counterproductive.
If some impressionable Mario fan was to see that he was against animal cruelty for posing for the PETA ad and then see his tweet, that's not standing up for the cause. It also hurts PETA's credibility. And while some may say it doesn't make any difference after Mario gets paid, keep in mind there are music fans like me who will wonder what else he lies about to create an image. The R&B and hip hop artists I admire most are the ones who are themselves no matter what. I'd rather him chomp down on a burger with a full-length mink coat than to make a mockery of a noble cause. At least that way we know where he stands and have the option of supporting or not supporting.
Published by Shamontiel
Shamontiel is the author of Round Trip and Change for a Twenty, and in mid-October became the Chicago Tribune s Digital News Editor. She works on National Travel, Health and occasionally Breaking News, and w... View profile
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4 Comments
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Oh, and I agree with you about celebrities putting their names behind a cause. I'm more likely to believe in the ones who were always standing up for a charity benefit or setting up their own programs. This is why I donated to the Yele Foundation for Haiti. Wyclef was behind Haiti long before the earthquake. There are other celebs I believe in though, like Don Cheadle, Alicia Keys, Bono (I LOVED that Vanity Fair addition in the top 10 promo article I wrote yesterday) and even Ludacris for his Ludacrismas events. I actually talked to him during his 2008 event so I can respect that in him. But some other celebs are all about the dinero.
Yes, but I feel like it's PETA's job to find people who have been vocal before the 'Ink, Not Mink' ad because if I'm a Mario fan, which I was, and I see him doing videos about not wearing fur and then shouting them out on Twitter, I'm thinking, "Hold up. Wow, you'll just stomp on any cause to get paid, huh?" Just like that, I'm not a fan. I don't respect people who use noble causes for their own agenda. If you don't believe in it, do something else. PETA should be really annoyed about that tweet.
As always, I feel the emotion jump right off the computer screen when reading your work. I assume celebs are paid to use their well-known status in any advertising, unless and until I learn of their unbridled personal/financial support to the cause.