UPDATE: PETA Responds To Kelis, "I Hope This Finds You Well"

News: UPDATE: PETA Responds To Kelis, "I Hope This Finds You Well"
Sunday, Jan 17, 2010 8:00PM

Written by Cyrus Langhorne

Days after R&B singer Kelis lashed at PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) in a public letter over her open usage of furs, the organization has responded with their stance on the situation.

While not slamming the singer, the open PETA letter did, however, suggest for Kelis to join the likes of other celebrities against wearing animal skins.

"I hope that this finds you well," the letter reads. "I'm writing today because we've been inundated with phone calls and e-mails from folks alerting us to photos of you wearing a fur hat and coat while out in London over the weekend. Please know that animals killed for their fur endure immense suffering. Foxes, minks, coyotes, and rabbits--and even dogs and cats--are bludgeoned, strangled, genitally electrocuted, and even skinned alive for their pelts. We hope that you'll take a moment to watch an undercover exposé of fur farms, hosted by Eva Mendes, at http://www.peta.org/FeatureEvaMendes.asp. If you enjoy the look of fur, renowned designers, including Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Stella McCartney, and Vivienne Westwood, couple fashion with compassion and use only faux fur in their lines. We hope you found this information helpful and will join countless celebrities, like Charlize Theron, Khloe Kardashian, Nia Long, Kid Sister, Pink, and Michelle Obama, in publicly swearing off fur. Warm regards, PETA." (Y2K Daily)
In an open MySpace posting, Kelis supported her choice to publicly wear fur.

"Ok, so you're gonna love this," she wrote on a MySpace message. "The other day I got a personalized letter from PETA! Lol so after some thought I've decided to write one back. Goes a little something like this:There is no humane way to kill anything, let me start there. It's unfortunate but it's part of life. With that being said, I would eat pterodactyl if you found some and you told me it was meaty and delicious. And after doing a very minimal amount of research....... I found out that the founder Ingrid Newkirk is completely batty. I had a feeling but she far exceeded my expectations. I mean certifiably insane! Lol this chicks will is nuts, google it - it's a riot! ...Find a worthwhile cause like the women being maimed in these Middle Eastern countries. Or female circumcision. Or women's rights here in America, we still get paid less for doing the same jobs as men. Quite honestly if you hate the world so much go live in the forest where no one else has to hear you complain about the perfectly good food chain the good Lord created. Everyone has the right to an opinion, and that's mine on that!" (Kelis' MySpace)
According to reports, the message was a response from an incident earlier this month.

Some background on the situation: Kelis was photographed earlier this week wearing a very fur-centric ensemble which caught the attention of animal activist group PETA leading the singer to make a public rebuttal via her MySpace blog. Kelis not only dismisses PETA President Ingrid Newkirk as "nuts" but the organization as a whole as causing "the death of high fashion." (Pop Eater)
Outside from PETA, Kelis has also been handling legal matters with estranged husband, rapper Nas.

TMZ has obtained Kelis' legal docs asking the judge to haul Nas into court and ask him why he shouldn't be held in contempt of court. According to Kelis' lawyer, disso queen Laura Wasser, Nas is behind in child and spousal support to the tune of $56,911.50. According to legal papers, Nas has refused to pay any child support at all since December 1. (TMZ)

From SOHH.com

http://www.sohh.com/2010/01/update_peta_responds_to_kelis_i_hope_thi.html