White House: PETA used Mrs. Obama's image without permission

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The fur is flying over a new ad campaign by an animal rights group the White House says is using first lady Michelle Obama's image without her permission...

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The fur is flying over a new ad campaign by an animal rights group the White House says is using first lady Michelle Obama’s image without her permission.

The president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Ingrid Newkirk, said her organization wouldn’t have sought Mrs. Obama’s consent for the anti-fur ad because it knows that she can’t make such an endorsement.

PETA included the first lady in its Washington ad campaign based on White House confirmation that she does not wear fur.

Mrs. Obama appears in the ad with celebrities Oprah Winfrey, Carrie Underwood and Tyra Banks — three others who have shunned fur. The ads are appearing in Washington’s Metro stations, magazines and PETA’s Web site.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE