Kelis tells PETA: “I would have fur walls if I could”

Kelis dresses appropriately for the freezing London weather as she heads to her album launch party

Kelis sat down for a new interview with MTV, and I think the whole thing was supposed to be about fashion and “Kelis as style icon”. But she ended up giving a fat “f-ck you” to PETA, an organization she has tangled with before. Several months ago, Kelis was photographed wearing a fur hat, which angered PETA of course. They sent her an open letter, and Kelis basically told them to shove it.

Anyway, in this interview, Kelis is talking about finding your own personal style, saying your fashion is “your calling card and your resume, in a sense”. MTV gets Kelis to review some of her fashion moments, and they put up the photo of her in the fur hat, the one that angered PETA so much. Kelis lays down the law:

Kelis – MTV Shows

“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?’ 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.”

[Transcribed portion from MTV interview]

Look, I don’t wear fur, so I have mixed opinions about this. Of course, if I could afford fur, I might wear it… but maybe not. When I get cold, I just put on polar fleece. On one side, I do think PETA is full of wingnuts and people who should really mind their own business. On the other side, I just see a valid reason to wear such a blatant symbol of animal cruelty just because you “wanna”. Eh.

Kelis kicks up to BBC Maida Vale studios to record a live lounge session

Kelis dresses appropriately for the freezing London weather as she heads to her album launch party

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69 Responses to “Kelis tells PETA: “I would have fur walls if I could””

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  1. SammyHammy says:

    While I have pretty much come around on the whole fur thing and don’t think I would wear it anymore, I can’t fault Kelis for insulting PETA. That is an organization unworthy of respect.

  2. Maddie says:

    Instead of sending a F-you to PETA maybe she should concentrate on getting her career back in line.

  3. MARKY MARK says:

    When Kelis was in the middle of all that rancor with her husband–she cried “BROKE” all over place. Fur walls and hats and all this is why she’s always broke

  4. Leticia says:

    Right on, Kelis

    I don’t have a problem with people wearing fur because I eat meat every single day.

    Some of the Peta people are like religious fanatics, overzealous to convert people. Animal activism substitutes for religion to some people. And all of the tolerance that they preach in other areas flies out the window when it comes to fur…

  5. Dannii says:

    no, Kelis is right-peta are hypocrites! if PETA wanna bitch about people wearing fur, they should start with the people who they use in their campaigns (dita von teese for one) who own fur but they never moan about. and yes peta are all like “we love animals” but they euthanise cat’s and dogs! i know there’s gonna be people like “no, peta really do care about animals otherwise why would they campaign?”. oh i dunno, hazard a gu£$$.

  6. Rose says:

    I can’t stand PETA, but this attitude is beyond stupid.

  7. Naye in VA says:

    @ Marky Mark this is very true. Nut at the same time you know the courts feel like exes should be able to continue they life they were livin…. and ive seen Nas in his share of fur.
    That being said, she is back to work. Fur walls are overkill though. I think a tasteful piece of fur here and there is okay. It really does keep you warm. but full on “im a carnivore” what does that mean. I hope she wears what she eats

  8. freckles says:

    I’m neutral towards fur, I don’t own any myself but I could see myself buying a hat or maybe a coat if someday I find myself made of money. One thing I do feel strongly about is the fact that I hate, hate, HATE PETA. And before someone comments saying that all the animals are skinned alive in front of their babies and their screams echo in your ears whenever you put on their poor furry little carcass…. spare me.

  9. Praise St. Angie! says:

    she needs more work on her wardrobe than just the fur angle…

  10. canadianchick says:

    Fur walls…can you imagine the stench when it rains outside? Heehee.

  11. Peach says:

    Ew.
    It’s like Extremist vs. Ignorance. Can we juts let them settle this street style so we can rid ourselves of both?

  12. carrie says:

    even Paris Hilton doesn’t wear fur so Paris Hilton is more clever than this idiot

  13. stinabelle says:

    I don’t like fur, but I also don’t like Peta. I agree with Kelis that they are hypocritical and more than a little crazy, but… is Kelis really a style icon? Man. I must be really behind on the fashion times.

  14. Shay says:

    I’m not into wearing fur for myself and am not a PETA member, but seriously, some of these R n B ‘stars’ have no idea about the world ‘overkill’ (pun intended) in regard to their over the top style. They don’t just wear fur, they need to use it to attract the wrong kind of attention a la Kanye and his gf.
    Kelis saying that she is a complete carnivore? I so think of a sci-fi alternative world for her to be the ‘mink’ in the fur farm, to hear someone say ‘I’m a complete’ carnivore. What is a complete carnivore? You don’t eat fur, you wear it.

  15. Brittney says:

    How asinine… being a carnivore and wearing fur are two completely different things, and though I choose to do neither, she is being willfully ignorant about the latter and flaunting it no less. Disgusting.

  16. jc126 says:

    Hate PETA, hate Kelis. Don’t like fur, particularly, unless you’re living in the Arctic, I suppose.

  17. Cheyenne says:

    I had a fur coat a long time ago but I sold it. Fur is impractical, expensive to buy and care for, and you can keep just as warm in a good down coat for a tenth of the money.

    That said, I think PETA is a bunch of hypocrites, scarfing down hamburgers and wearing leather shoes while they scream about animal rights.

  18. borderlined says:

    What I think is so sad about this is that much of the fur industry (but not all) is cruel, and there are differences between slaughtering an animal for food and killing it solely for its pelt (often in horrific ways) where the rest of the animal is not used. PETA is only contributing to the problem by being so obnoxious; people hate them, and they sometimes want to get back at them, and that’s understandable, but it is the issue that should be the real concern. Is all fur harvested in a cruel way, probably not, but by buying fur anywher you are inadvertantly contributing to the market in places that don’t abide by any concerns for the animal. PETA should just shut up and let intelligent, non-obnoxious people do the work, because they’re only making the situation worse.

  19. Taya says:

    Kelis is the ‘queen of ghetto trash’ and her ignorance just confirms that.

  20. Lenore says:

    I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. I’ve been a vegetarian for sixteen years now and PETA just make me want to go out and fix up a nice platter of fresh clubbed baby seal sushi.

    A gang of shrieking, sanctimonious, self-righteous, hypocritical, irrational lunatics who think that terrorising people who don’t agree with them is justified. I hope they choke on their tofu; they’re making the rest of us rational veggies look bad.

  21. Myrrhlyn says:

    Who or what is a Kelis and why does anyone care what she thinks about anything?? PLEASE don’t tell me she’s yet another terrible pop star?

  22. Demos says:

    http://www.petakillsanimals.com/

    What Kelis said is true – if PETA gets their hand on your puppy, it’s as good as dead.

    Guh, I detest all these furphobic PETAphiles.

  23. Juice in LA says:

    Who is this again, and why do we care? Yawn. Still, thanks for reporting so I wont accidentally buy anything this chunky troll would try to sell.

    I am surprised this site takes and anti-PETA stance since your adds often support the cessation of animal abuses.

    But I do see that I am in the minority this morning as I am completely anti-fur and Pro-PETA. I am thankful someone is taking animal right to the extreme, when all I see is the increase in animal abuses like The Michael Vicks/Dogfight video tapes; and Japanese whalers killing dolphins and sharks; even allegedly treasured institutions like Barnum Bailey – which continues to be the world’s most popular circus- yet they routinely smash tire irons into the heads of their elephants before performances. Have you seen the footage? Its gruesome and reminds me that many humans are loathesome when it comes to animals.

  24. gg says:

    Her “personal style” is really horrible – if that’s her reason for wearing fur, she needs a REDO!

    BAD TASTE, HONEY.

  25. Vi says:

    i think the main problem with fur is the inhumane way that it is acquired, not necessarily that it’s from animals. i won’t eat eggs unless i know that they are farmed in a humane way and not like 10 chickens per square inch of space and i wouldn’t wear fur because of the way it’s collected.

  26. Katyusha says:

    While I loathe people who wear fur, I understand what Kelis is saying…PETA is so radical, it’s difficult for anyone to take them seriously when they really want to fight for a cause.
    I also understand that sometimes people just don’t realize how most fur is harvested; and they’d rather stay blind to it, so they can keep wearing it.

    On that note, Kelis is an idiot. If she were a “complete carnivore”, that would imply she eats nothing BUT meat. No salads, no fruit, no cereal, just meat.
    In that case, have a good heart attack, b*tch!!

  27. original kate says:

    in what universe is kelis a style icon?

  28. Ron says:

    I am Horrified that so many of you are unaware of the cruelty that is inflicted on animals for fashion. If fashion is your “resume” what does it say about you when you willing to slaughter animals in cruel ways so I can “look good”? WOW!
    For all of you who are bashing PETA –
    PEOPLE FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS —- CHECK out their web site and learn something http://www.peta.org/

  29. Elizabeth says:

    That’s why her career is going so great, I noticed that cruel people like her have really hard time with Karma. Look at what happend to another fur hags Jennifer Lopez, Jonny weir. Fur should be outlawed. My great-grandfather ran a fur pelt business, if people saw how fur is made, I doubt they would wear fur.

  30. manda says:

    PETA does not believe that people should have animals as pets, and so that is why they euthanize. I don’t understand why they think that, especially since a lot of animals have been bred over hundreds and thousands of years to depend on humans, and I know my dog is much better treated than a lot of people are, so I don’t see why they think death would be better than being owned. They also disagree with all testing on animals, even testing for serious diseases, like cancer and AIDS. They are extremists, and it’s only natural that most middle-of-the-road people would find things to agree with and things to disagree with, about them.

  31. ViktoryGin says:

    @ Taye,

    Kelis is hardly the “queen of ghetto trash”. That honor goes to Lil’ Kim or Nicki Minaj. Kelis is like a Lady in Waiting. And she forever does stupid shit cuz she needs attention. Daft creature.

    While I agree with the cause, PETA reminds we of the hellfire and brimstone Christians back home in TX. I’ll Ieave it. Thanks.

  32. k says:

    Well said, borderlined.

  33. grazi says:

    wearing fur means you are egocentric and essentialy bad. you dont care for other’s pain, you just think about looking good.
    i have no respect for people like that. and i have no respect for people who use the excuse “i hate peta” to think this cruelty is ok or understandable.
    it’s not like any of them does not like peta but support other organizations with the same purpose. they both dont f care.

  34. lucy2 says:

    I do not like fur and I do not like Peta, they’re far too extremist for me and I think actually hurt the cause as much as they help it, if not more so, and they are hypocritical. There are many better animal welfare organizations that I prefer to support.

    The idea that Kelis is a fashion icon is laughable, any time I see photos of her, she looks like she got dressed while completely drunk. Plus she sounds like a total idiot.

  35. Lady D says:

    Sick bitch.

  36. Lady D says:

    I also think it’s hilarious that the top ad on this page is for yeast infections. Coincidence?

  37. gen says:

    A. This woman is a no talent joke.
    B. She is a gold digger.
    C. Not that you have to agree with PETA, but why do you have an ad against elephant abuse if you are ok with killing animals for their fur?
    D. PETA needs to take some time off & figure out a way to make themselves look better. Cause as it stands, they’re an embrassment to the animal rights movement.
    E. People who wear fur can bite my *ss!!!!

  38. Jess says:

    Fur is just plain gross.
    Manda- who in the world told you this? Please show me where PETA says that they do not believe in owning pets.

  39. sdca says:

    thank god more than one person mentioned that Kelis needs to work on her style more than worry about peta.

    what universe is she a style icon in? exactly my sentiments.

    Oh,and while we are on the subject, I don’t even think fur is beautiful or fashionable, generally speaking.

    It’s a very ‘daaaaahlink’ type of look-a stereotype more than anything, about it’s wearer. same with certain cars, types of food, locales,e tc. people wearing fur are assumed to be ‘rich’.

    But, when it comes down to it, those dang russian hats are retarded looking. and wearing dead baby animals around your neck is perhaps fascinating to some in a macabre manner, but it ain’t fashionable in my world. it just looks stupid-honestly, dead animal or not.
    It’s not aesthetically pleasing, it’s just an image.
    Unless I missed the SI swimwear issue with the mink bikini on some hot chick. I bet it still looked retarded.

    I can understand russians and mongolians wearing it in that f*cking cold winter of theirs. but they don’t look sexy or stylin’,IMHO.

  40. Katija says:

    @ Lenore – I totally agree.

    I have been involved with puppy mill charities in the past, still donate once a year. Unnecessary cruelty towards animals is disgusting.

    But whenever the charity I was involved with did an event, some PETA people would show up, and we’d have to explain to them that we’re a bunch of leather wearing, steak eating “monsters” who just happen to strongly dislike raising designer dogs in 3×3 foot cages. Everyone involved with the project would always groan and curse when we saw the PETA crowd pull up. If the Humane Society made an appearance we were thrilled, and believe me, THOSE guys hate PETA more than anyone.

  41. KsGirl says:

    For me, the issue here is cruelty. Anyone who eats meat, or wears fur, or uses leather products is taking the chance that the animal who died in the production of the item suffered before it died. I personally don’t have an issue with an animal dying for my food/fashion desires. Humane slaughter is, imo, possible. The problem for me comes when an animal is made to suffer before it dies, and this is about the method of slaughter. For example, an unconscious pig having its throat slit is OK with me, a conscious pig (or anything) being skinned alive is not OK.

    I wear fur. So far, all of it vintage, and if I ever buy fur new, the source will have to be able to prove that it was killed humanely (some countries are working on this but as of now it’s not very widespread).

    Basically, if you use animal products, admit that the animal may have suffered before it died. If you don’t, fine, I have no problem with your stance, but recognize that not everyone will make the same ethical choices as you.

    As for PETA, yeah, all those people defending them, please talk about the cats and dogs they euthanize. I hate sanctimonious hypocrites and these people fit the bill!

  42. aury says:

    what a complete & utter bitch. i never liked her or her crappy “music”. i seriously hope she rots in hell.

  43. fizXgirl314 says:

    come on people… eating meat is not the same thing as skinning an animal and throwing away its carcass… just THINK for a minute… it’s not that hard :-/

    and just because you don’t agree with an organization, doesn’t mean you should take it on poor, defenseless animals… what a psycho hag…

  44. doublestandard says:

    Eating meat is the same thing as wearing fur. Your using a part of a dead animal. I don’t wear fur. I do eat meat as most humans do. PITA is insane about HOW they try to fight for their cause and it turns a lot of people off so they don’t listen to them at all. Let people make their own choice, PITA, and change your crazy tactics if you actually want to influence people.

  45. Sudini says:

    Exactly fxXgirl314. People need to stop throwing the baby out with the bath water. Just because you don’t agree with PETA doesn’t mean you should just abandon all sense of decency and compassion toward those creatures that are so insanely used and mistreated.

    Endorsing compassion for living creatures is a GOOD thing, even if these particular messengers are getting in their own way.

    And there really is a big difference between eating meat (and using/wearing the resulting leather) and supporting the fur trade. The fur trade is based ENTIRELY on vanity and invokes unfathomable and completely unnecessary cruelty toward living creatures. The majority of the animal is thrown away and wasted. ALL for the sake of someone’s sense of vanity (and bad taste, more often than not). There is just NO excusing that level of selfishness.

  46. Mistral says:

    Where’s she going in that hat? Siberia?

  47. MissyA says:

    I don’t eat meat. I don’t wear fur/leather. I’m one of those idiots who buys free range everything.

    I support animal rights, but I don’t want anything to do with PETA.

    Maybe Kelis should focus on resurrecting her dead career instead of trying to provoke the crazies with dead animals.

  48. Dannii says:

    @ no.28 (cant see your name) ,read the comments again. you say you hate animal cruelity and give us shit for it yet support PETA? what part of peta kills animals don’t you understand? most people generally are not against animal rights but are against peta because they are hypocrites. end of discussion.

  49. pixiegirl says:

    She is vile and disgusting! PETA’s shortcomings do not validate her ridiculous opinion. She is gross and so is everyone who wears fur.

  50. Kim says:

    She is uneducated, tacky trash. May not love PETA but wearing animal fur is sick and people who wear fur are totally classless anyhow.

  51. DiMi says:

    gen: You are wrong, sexist, and artistically ignorant. Kelis is not a “no talent joke.” She’s actually an extremely talented vocalist – listen to her recordings with N.E.R.D. – when she actually sings. Also, she is not a “gold-digger.” Everybody agrees that she and Nas were genuinely in love before their relationship turned sour, and even he respects her as an artist. I hate it when sexist people call women gold-diggers for wanting a legal divorce settlement. And I say this as a woman who has never taken a dime from a man.

    However, despite her talent, Kelis’ attitude about fur is absolutely unconscionable and offensive.
    She should be ashamed of herself.

    PETA is problematic, but two wrongs don’t make a right.

  52. javagirl1 says:

    Unfortunately Ive seen an anti-fur video where they were skinning an animal alive and its tongue was hanging out and it was literally gagging in pain….so I can’t say I’ll ever be wearing any fur…but PETA is really as lame and hypocritical as you guys are making it out to be. Down with PETA! lol

  53. Lanette says:

    TEAM KELIS

    EFF PETA

  54. Elizabeth says:

    OK, regardless of what you think about PETA, the fact is that innocent animals (including cats and dogs) are anally and vaginally electrocuted, stomped to death, and SKINNED ALIVE (yes, there is video evidence). Only the most evil person could know these things, see the videos and STILL think it’s OK to wear fur. This shouldn’t be about PETA, it should be about protecting innocent animals from people who support animal abuse, like this pathetic, irrelevant one-hit-wonder.

  55. j. ferber says:

    Sudini, I TOTALLY agree with you. Furthermore, Kelis is a style icon in her own mind and nowhere else. All of her clothing choices are flamingly hideous and bizarre. She sure is milking Nas, though. God knows how much of his money is actually left to take care of the kid he’s paying for. Instead of the fur, why not just wear $100 dollar bills all over her body to flaunt her gold-digger wealth? Absolutely can’t stand her.

  56. GatsbyGal says:

    PETA needs to fuck off and mind their own business. They are nothing but liars and hypocrites. Kelis can wear whatever she wants. It’s not the choice I would make for myself, but it’s her right.

  57. Crash2GO2 says:

    How is wearing fur a blatant symbol of animal cruelty? Are we all saying the same of eating meat of any kind? There is no difference.

  58. Jillian says:

    PETA’s like a terrorist organization! Geez.

  59. mln says:

    Peta doesn’t do the cause of animal rights any good with the way that they protest/advertise themselves why not work on improving conditions for animals in Fur mills and encourage the meat packing industry to use their cowhides for leather so that less animals are killed instead of scapegoating celebrities

  60. Larissa says:

    @mln : that in an ideal world right?

    whie I disagree with some of PETA tatics, and other animal rights groups,
    this bitch has to seriously shut her hole.
    What an ignorant twat, how old is she? 12?

    btw, trashing PETA is the only way she stays relevant.

  61. CrazyFeministMess says:

    Although I do NOT support fur wearing, fur trading, or the abuse of animals of any kind, nevertheless I will NEVER support PETA! I think they are the most rudest, racist, condescending, and most disrespectful people on the face of the planet. They’re worst than the KKKs (who at least do not hide the fact that they’re racist.} I heard more racist comments towards Rap and R&B stars (attacking Blacks and Latinos)than the many Caucasian women who wore fur, Madonna, Catherine Zeta Jones, and etc. Will I continue to support animal rights? YES! But not PETA, and the racists, mean-spirited people like you who support it!

  62. AmyJ says:

    Sure you can wear fur if you are willing to get your ass out their and slaughter all the little animals needed, and this chic is so easy to boycot – she has not talent.

  63. CrazyFeministMess says:

    PETA’s logo should be “Animal Cruelty Turns Profit.” For some of us who are aware of how hypocritical they are!

  64. D. Keane says:

    I support PETA 100%; sometimes you have to be a little fanatical to combat all the horrific cruelty towards, and blatant disregard for animal rights. Not only is this “fashion statement” repugnant, it’s tacky. She looks like a street professional that came into a sudden windfall and didn’t have time to consult a stylist. On a side note, it’s not likely that the animals who were killed for their fur are of the type raised for meat in the first place; so don’t give me that: “Oh, I eat meat so this is just using every part of the animal” crap. Shame on this so-called, “celebrity” display; what a lousy way to use your influence.

  65. Christina says:

    javagirl, I don’t know what the story behind PETA is… waht I do know is that people start these rumors that get perpetuated and never die… So take that with a grain of salt and do your own research (and I don’t mean reading someone’s blog rantings on a website)

  66. Circe says:

    Whether or not you think PETA is stupid – there is such a thing as ‘fake fur’. Wear that instead. Problem solved. Everybody happy.

    Including those foxes who can now forego having electrodes shoved up their rear ends.

  67. j. ferber says:

    I need to add that this bitch is fat and the leather pants just broadcast this to the world. Ugly, vain, cruel, selfish– how lucky Nas was to unload this cheating
    witch.

  68. coucou says:

    Say what you want Peta Patrol, she is just as entitled to her opinion as you are. Those who are against create those who are for. You cannot have it both ways. When i see people getting all fanatical over anything, i can’t help but think of Nazis.

  69. cobra says:

    So I’m no fan of PETA or Kelis, but all the sexist idiots accusing her of being a gold-digger — you do realize that Nas is refusing to pay child support, right? How the hell are you gonna call that gold-digging? Jesus H, get your heads out of your asses and stop being ruled by your irrational phobia of women.

    As for PETA, I don’t know why they expect people to do what they say when they’re so condescending and insulting all the time — and I say this as a vegan!