Celebrities Use Fame to Save the Animals
Popular Celebrity Causes PETA, Breast Cancer Awareness & Weight Loss
Feb 21, 2009
Fame has become a valuable marketing commodity for charities and special interest groups. One of the most successful is People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals or PETA as it is known. PETA boasts a cavalcade of stars that has elevated its profile to a position usually reserved for leading consumer brands.
Pink, Good Charlotte and Sir Paul McCartney for PETA
PETA’s cache of celebrity supporters includes high profile musicians like Sir Paul McCartney, Pink and Good Charlotte’s Benji Madden.
But sometimes supporters can get into hot water trying to fulfill their obligations. In 2007 Pink came under fire for supporting an anti-Australian wool campaign based on inaccurate information about the practice of mulesing – a procedure undertaken by farmers to prevent maggot infestation in sheep.
An apologetic Pink told the BBC “I was speaking without thinking …I have nothing against farmers. …I don't want to hurt anyone I just want the animals to hurt less."
And The Pretenders lead singer Chrissie Hynde, a long time vegetarian, has been arrested in her bid to save the animals.
At an exclusive club in London Chrissie reportedly became enraged at the use of an elephant’s leg as an umbrella stand. The activist supposedly threatened to throw the offending item from the premises and was given the choice; leave quietly or face the constabulary.
And there was the incident in New York at GAP in 2000 where Chrissie and other PETA supporters slashed leather clothing in protest of the company’s importation of leather goods. This time Chrissie was carted off by the police.
Melissa Etheridge Fights Breast Cancer
Health is another frontier where celebrities are being used to promote awareness campaigns.
Having beaten her own battle with breast cancer Melissa Etheridge, best known for hit singles like Bring Me Some Water is lending her star-power to raise awareness for the disease.
Other singers fighting the good cause against breast cancer are those who have also had a close encounter with this pervasive disease including Australians Olivia Newton-John and Kylie Minogue as well as rocker Sheryl Crowe.
Melissa’s own fight has given her a new perspective on life. Not only is she supporting breast cancer awareness events such as Hard Rock’s Pinktober, but she is also championing the environment.
At this month’s Biodiesel conference in San Francisco Melissa was presented with the 2009 Influence Award from the National Biodiesel Board.
Lap Band Surgery and the War Against Obesity
At the age of 51 Ann Wilson, lead singer of the 1980’s super group Heart, underwent lap band surgery in an attempt to win the battle of the bulge. The drastic measure was taken after a life long battle with obesity that saw Ann’s weight yo-yo by 100lbs and her self-esteem plummet.
In the 1970’s when Heart made waves as the first rock group to be fronted by two women – Ann on vocals and her sister Nancy on guitar – it was the music that everyone focused on. Few can forget Ann’s powerful vocals on tracks like Magic Man and Barracuda which more than compensated for any physical imperfections.
But with the advent of MTV in 1981 the whole rock n’ roll game changed. Ushering in a new age of visual stimulation musicians suddenly had to worry about their appearance as well as performance.
After years of being pushed into the background to hide her size Ann decided to face her demons. And the operation had a miraculous effect on her health and wellbeing. In 2000 she became a spokesperson for the procedure that is today fast gaining traction as a solution for the morbidly obese.
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