S. Samuel
After recent buzz hit the Internet suggesting rapper Waka Flocka Flame may show off his goods, SOHH hit up PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) to find out the real scoop.
PETA spokesperson Megan Rondeau said celebrities often jump at opportunities to exhibit their bodies to help promote animal rights awareness.
“Celebrities and athletes don’t have to be vegetarian or vegan,” PETA spokesperson Megan Rondeau told SOHH when asked if Flocka had to give up eating meat to participate in their campaigns. “That’s not a problem at all. I think that people often find there might be one cause that they’re very compassionate about and we love to work with them on it. [Our naked celebrity PETA campaigns] kind of goes both ways. Sometimes an artist will say, ‘I want to do a naked ad.’ I’m not sure if in this specific case whether Waka said that, but a lot of times, yes, artists and athletes will say they want to do it naked and they’re so all about it because it gets so much press — I think people get really excited about it and want to get the message out which is not to support the fur industry. So I think we try to really work with the celebrity and we would never try to push somebody to get naked if that was something they didn’t feel comfortable doing.” (SOHH)
Earlier this month, Waka revealed his affiliation with PETA.
Launching on February 22, Waka will be joining PETA’s “Ink Not Mink” campaign in Los Angeles, CA alongside Lady Gaga, Pink, and Mariah Carey, Flame’s publicist, Kali Bowyer said. When commenting on his involvement with PETA, the 1017 Brick Squad rep told XXL, “Animals should be treated the same as you would a kid. Would you want someone just to walk up and skin your kid? H*ll no!” (XXL Mag)
Last September, rap star 50 Cent upset PETA after posting controversial animal photos to his Twitter page.
“Oprah is a miniature schnauzer. She was born in a litter of 8 puppies. Just my luck I picked the only a**hole”
“Now this is how you shut a b*tch up http://twitpic.com/2qejfi”
“yeah I thought u’d change your mind b*tch! http://twitpic.com/2qelil”
“Now this is to the Peta people: Stay off my motherf*cking twitter page I don’t give a f*ck! Lol” (50 Cent’s Twitter)
In summer 2010, hip-pop singer Kelis talked about her past issues with PETA.
She insists that she’s not at war with the group, and, if anything, PETA is unfairly attacking her. “I don’t have a beef with PETA. They targeted me more than one time, and finally I just responded and kind of tickled myself in the process. At the end of the day, they’re terrorists, and that’s my issue…I don’t think anybody’s beliefs should be forced on anyone like that. I’m an American; I live here. It’s my right, and that’s my stance on it.” (USA Today)
Check out some recent Waka Flocka Flame footage below:
