Former Destiny's Child star Beyoncé Knowles has been confronted by animal rights campaigners who are critical of the use of fur in her new fashion line.
The singer recently launched her clothing line House of Dereon with the help of her mother, but the new range includes items made from chinchilla, rabbit and mink fur. Beyoncé also regularly includes fur in her own wardrobe, and wore a pink mink coat to the premiere of her new film The Pink Panther.
However, the star is now receiving a barrage of hate mail and phone calls from angry activists. A record company source told NewsTrend: "Activists have threatened to dump carcasses at our offices or Beyoncé's home."
Beyoncé was also ambushed by a group of campaigners who won an eBay charity auction to have dinner with the star. The Crazy in Love diva expected to share a meal with some fans at hip New York restaurant Nobu 57, but instead faced an interrogation from members of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).
E! Online reports that one individual addressed the star by saying: "Beyoncé, many of your fans would like to know why you don't care about how minks, foxes, and chinchillas are gassed, strangled, and electrocuted for vanity and if you might have it in your heart to recognize that fur is not only cheap and tacky but also horribly cruel."
Too stunned to respond, Beyoncé's mother and sister were left to defend her against the group's accusations before they were eventually escorted from the restaurant.
It is just that I am a realist, and look at the big picture. I am all for the existance, and prevalence, of magic and fantasy on this plane. But in all reality, these creatures that, for the last few centuries, have been prized for their fur, are becoming increasingly discusting to the population in general. They were considered valuable for their fur, but most certainly are nothing that will be kept as a pet, unless bred like ferrets-for personality and trainability. The fantasy that "they will all live free" is incorrect in the harsh reality of the human decimation of their natural habitat, which, for our own good, MUST be maintained in a natural and enviornmentally PRODUCTIVE manner. I really doubt the ham handed management of wild lands includes furbearers and...ANYTHING that is not profitably placed in the enviornment. The enviornment itself is in danger of becoming tract housing. Trust me that the bears, wolves, vermin and such are precarious at best in this country, at this time in it's development. Oh, and before you seek to dump on me for this opinion. I like nature. I am also a realist.