White House mad at PETA for using Michelle Obama’s image without consent

Though Michelle Obama does not include fur in her famously-fashionable wardrobe, her office insists it is not the right of PETA to use her image for their new ad: ‘Fur-free and fabulous’.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals did not have the permission of Mrs. Obama for putting her picture on their poster, but they just went ahead with it after a confirmation from the White House that the first lady does not wear fur.

Semonti Mustaphi, the deputy press secretary of the first lady, had said last June that "Mrs Obama does not wear fur", but her office has warned PETA that her image is being used without her consent.

PETA’s picture of Fur-free ladies
PETA’s picture shows Michelle Obama standing next to three other celebrities, who are all anti-fur. The celebrities include TV presenter Oprah Winfrey, singer Carrie Underwood and Tyra Banks, the model.

The posters have been put up on Washington's DC underground stations, magazines and on PETA's Web site.

All these ladies have officially been involved with PETA’s fight against fur, but Michelle Obama, being the wife of the president, cannot do so.

PETA co-founder and president Ingrid Newkirk has said that her group was aware that Mrs. Obama cannot endorse any kind of campaign for them, so they would not have sought her approval for it anyway.

"We haven't asked the White House to fund or promote the campaign, as they can't do such things, 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," said Newkirk.

With the above explanation, PETA refuses to take down the posters.

Celeb-support for PETA
PETA is a famous animals’ rights campaign group, which is known to involve celebs from the world-over in its ads. Animals are not ours to eat or to wear, says PETA, adding that it is honoring four "fabulous" fur-free women.

"Tyra Banks first renounced fur 15 years ago when she modeled a faux-fur hat, complete with a 'no fur' button, for PETA," says the organization, on its website.

"Oprah, who refuses to wear real fur or feature it in O magazine, was named PETA's 'Person of the Year' in 2008 for her efforts to educate her millions of viewers about the cruelty of puppy mills and factory farms."