Aretha Franklin

PETA to Aretha Franklin: To Animal Lovers, You Are a Court Jester

Aretha Franklin

Soul queen Aretha Franklin has been put on blast by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) after her fur wearing appearance at the recent Grammy Awards. PETA released a statement last week requesting that the Queen of Soul give up her dead animal skins for good. "Music lovers may think of you as a 'queen,' but to animal lovers, you are a court jester," wrote PETA spokesperson Dan Matthews. "Why not shed the old-fashioned look that adds pounds to your frame and detracts from your beautiful voice? Please consider donating your furs to the homeless as 'queen of compassion,' Mariah Carey, did. You'll get a tax credit for the donation, and we at PETA will all sing your praises." Last week, Franklin was the target of Beyonce's father/manager Mathew Knowles, who released a statement calling the singer "ridiculous" and "immature" for griping about his daughter calling Tina Turner "the queen" before their Grammy performance.