PETA responds to Audrina Patridge’s hamburger

Audrina Patridge gets a pass from PETA for modeling with a big fat juicy hamburger in her mouth a month or so after doing publicity work for the animal rights group.

“Audrina is brand new to the animal rights movement and she is not a vegetarian (and has never claimed to be),”  PETA spokeswoman Amy Cook wrote in an e-mail in response to my questions. “She has, however, brought much needed media attention to the problem of animal overpopulation by appearing in our ad urging people to adopt companion animals instead of buying them.”

Patridge, a character on MTV’s The Hills who’s slated to get her own reality show next season, created a bit of unintentional entertainment earlier this month by showing up on an ad for a new Carl Jr.’s terriyaki burger after appearing April 22 in an “Angel for Animals” publicity campaign to get people to choose pet adoption.

I know. I know. This isn’t exactly an environmental media story, but I figure the celebrity PR faux pas falls within Cult of Green’s  “pop culture” realm. Plus, you don’t really expect me to pass up a headline like the one on this story?

As Cook notes: “Oftentimes, a celebrity gets involved with PETA on one issue and then learns more about other issues over time. For example, Alicia Silverstone wasn’t a vegetarian when we first began working with her. Now she’s a strict vegan and talks about her vegan diet and animal rights in almost every interview she does.

“Making the transition to a vegan lifestyle is a gradual process, as you know, and we’re happy to work with celebrities on even the most introductory levels. We hope, as you do, that eventually they’ll boycott all industries that harm and kill animals.”

OK, Amy. I guess it wasn’t as hypocritical as Paris Hilton participating in the Vote or Die campaign, and then not even registering to vote.

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