**Update! PETA replaced the billboard…but is the replacement any better? Jennifer Nicole weighs in here.
Hey PETA! We heard about your new ad campaign.
We also heard about your press statement (given by Ashley Byrne, a senior campaigner for PETA, to the Huffington Post) when legitimate news sources all over the country reported on the outrage:
“Our goal is help overweight Jacksonville residents – the best way to do that is to go vegetarian. We’re not trying to insult anyone. [...] If the billboard is shocking, hopefully it will gets people’s attention, and help them improve quality of life for themselves and their families… it’s designed to help people.”
And, in turn, we have a response: Bullshit.
PETA’s campaigning tactics are often shady, underhanded and over-the-top, and this campaign is no different. The billboard is all about shaming people into desperation to sell their product (in this case vegetarianism) without giving credence to health, overall lifestyle, and safe practices. This has nothing to do with helping people.
What’s more, these billboards are centered in Florida – the swimsuit-wearing, body-scrutinizing capitol of the country. Was that just a coincidence, PETA?
I’m all for unhealthy people putting down the fork, but that fork could just as easily hold a cheese-slathered baked potato (or Häagen-Dazs, or funnel cake, or pizza, or syrup-covered waffles) as it could a medium-rare steak, and shaming someone into weight loss is one of the fastest ways to destroy their self worth and whatever healthy habits they have, in favor of a smaller body and starvation diets.
And what about those that have PCOS, metabolic disorders or other diseases that cause an inability to lose weight? Is their shame at seeing these billboards merely a sad side effect when curing the world of its meat-eating ways?
Thanks, PETA, for reminding us just how far you’ll go to sell your agenda. I hope that this target audience – you know, those whales – see your ad and choose to eat more healthily…and I hope that, just as often as they choose a salad, they also choose a steak*.
**Update! PETA replaced the billboard…but is the replacement any better? Jennifer Nicole weighs in here.
*An organic steak from a locally-raised cow that hasn’t been stuffed with antibiotics, of course. I am a fan of conscious living.
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[...] we get to the foretold death of the public option and UnitedHealth awesome Monday on Wall Street? Article Outrage: Save the Whales, Screw the Rest of Us – thedemoiselles.com 08/18/2009 Hey PETA! We heard about your new ad campaign. We also heard [...]
Posts about Huffington Post as of August 18, 2009 » The Daily Parr added these pithy words on Aug 18 09 at 12:38 pm[...] Article Outrage: Save the Whales, Screw the Rest of Us | The … [...]
Strip That Fat and End the Vicious Cycle Once and For All | A Womans Life added these pithy words on Aug 20 09 at 9:14 am[...] The Demoiselles – Jennifer Nicole uncovers the secrets behind the new PETA ad, which degrades women based on weight. [...]
Links à la Mode: Beauty, Style, & the Blogospher | THE COVETED added these pithy words on Aug 20 09 at 11:38 am[...] The Demoiselles – Jennifer Nicole uncovers the secrets behind the new PETA ad, which degrades women based on weight. [...]
Bonne Vie - Links à la Mode added these pithy words on Aug 20 09 at 12:16 pm[...] The Demoiselles – Jennifer Nicole uncovers the secrets behind the new PETA ad, which degrades women based on weight. [...]
Jaka's Tea Party - Dress up. Get down. Speak out. added these pithy words on Aug 20 09 at 1:32 pm[...] The Demoiselles – Jennifer Nicole uncovers the secrets behind the new PETA ad, which degrades women based on weight. [...]
Links à la Mode: Beauty, Style, & the Blogosphere | The Demoiselles added these pithy words on Aug 20 09 at 1:55 pm[...] The Demoiselles – Jennifer Nicole uncovers the secrets behind the new PETA ad, which degrades women based on weight. [...]
Pie à la Mode via Links à la Mode! « Piewacket added these pithy words on Aug 20 09 at 3:00 pm[...] The Demoiselles – Jennifer Nicole uncovers the secrets behind the new PETA ad, which degrades women based on weight. [...]
Links à la Mode: IFB Beauty, Style & Fashion Bloggers | Meilily added these pithy words on Aug 21 09 at 12:03 am[...] The Demoiselles – Jennifer Nicole uncovers the secrets behind the new PETA ad, which degrades women based on weight. [...]
IFB Presents: Links a la Mode | dramatis personae added these pithy words on Aug 21 09 at 5:06 am[...] The Demoiselles – Jennifer Nicole uncovers the secrets behind the new PETA ad, which degrades women based on weight. [...]
Links A La Mode: Beauty, Style, & the Blogosphere | ClandestineChic added these pithy words on Aug 21 09 at 12:19 pm[...] The Demoiselles – Jennifer Nicole uncovers the secrets behind the new PETA ad, which degrades women based on weight. [...]
Links a la Mode: Beauty, Style & the Blogosphere added these pithy words on Aug 22 09 at 8:06 am[...] The Demoiselles – Jennifer Nicole uncovers the secrets behind the new PETA ad, which degrades women based on weight. [...]
Links à la Mode – added these pithy words on Aug 22 09 at 11:05 am[...] Last week we reported on PETA’s Florida billboard, which told viewers to “lose the blubber” by going vegetarian. After a huge public outcry, PETA has announced that they’re replacing the billboard with this: [...]
Update: PETA Replaces “Save The Whales” Billboard | The Demoiselles added these pithy words on Aug 24 09 at 1:37 pm[...] The Demoiselles – Jennifer Nicole uncovers the secrets behind the new PETA ad, which degrades women based on weight. [...]
Links à la Mode | Broke & Beautiful added these pithy words on Aug 25 09 at 5:00 am[...] The Demoiselles – Jennifer Nicole uncovers the secrets behind the new PETA ad, which degrades women based on weight. [...]
Links a la Mode « Saved For Best added these pithy words on Aug 25 09 at 6:36 am[...] The Demoiselles – Jennifer Nicole uncovers the secrets behind the new PETA ad, which degrades women based on weight. [...]
Links à la Mode: The IFB Weekly Roundup | Independent Fashion Bloggers added these pithy words on Aug 26 09 at 3:32 pm[...] The Demoiselles: – Jennifer Nicole uncovers the secrets behind the new PETA ad, which degrades women based on weight. [...]
Cosmetics Makeup Skincare blog » Blog Archive » Independent Fashion Bloggers Presents: Links à la Mode added these pithy words on Sep 12 09 at 4:34 pm[...] The Demoiselles: – Jennifer Nicole uncovers the secrets behind the new PETA ad, which degrades women based on weight. [...]
Independent Fashion Bloggers Presents: Links à la Mode | Little Miss Makeup's Blog added these pithy words on Sep 17 09 at 6:49 pm[...] The Demoiselles: – Jennifer Nicole uncovers the secrets behind the new PETA ad, which degrades women based on weight. [...]
Independent Fashion Bloggers Presents: Links à la Mode - Get the freshest news and videos here… - SarSar added these pithy words on Mar 26 10 at 11:22 pm[...] The Demoiselles – Jennifer Nicole uncovers the secrets behind the new PETA ad, which degrades women based on weight. [...]
IFB’s Links à la Mode: August 22, 2009 — Denim Debutante added these pithy words on Jul 16 11 at 11:43 pmThis angered me too when I saw it yesterday. For the simple fact that I know of A LOT of vegetarians — even vegans — who are STILL overweight, even with their meatless diets. So slamming vegetarianism in someone’s face isn’t likely to solve the problem. Especially if it means that they can eat potato chips for breakfast, lunch, & dinner. So while I can understand the direction they were going in, I can’t respect their approach, because it’s not accurate.
.-= Ev`Yan || apricot tea.´s last blog ..apricot’s closet: stripes & drop-crotch pants. =-.
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Ev`Yan || apricot tea. added these pithy words on
Aug 18 09 at
11:26 am
“I hope that this target audience – you know, those whales – see your ad and choose to eat more healthily…and I hope that, just as often as they choose a salad, they also choose a steak*.
*An organic steak from a locally-raised cow that hasn’t been stuffed with antibiotics, of course. I am a fan of conscious living.”
Hell, effing yes.
**Aside: I am a fan of cows getting antibiotics in their lifetime, so long as it’s to treat legitimate injuries or common illnesses in their life. I like small & local farmers not to suffer because they’re treating their cows well. That’s not stuffing them, though. /off topic
.-= Ashe Mischief´s last blog ..IFB Presents: Links a la Mode =-.
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Ashe Mischief added these pithy words on
Aug 18 09 at
11:26 am
Just by going vegitarian doesn’t make someone healthy. and I love how they admitted they basically did this just for attention.
.-= eyeliah´s last blog ..Lets Get On With This =-.
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eyeliah added these pithy words on
Aug 18 09 at
11:32 am
Ahhhhhhh I hate PETA. They’ve also done racist and sexist advertising in the past (one of the incidents, I vaguely remember, was two girls making out in front of a vegetarian billboard. yeah. because lesbians are only attention attracting ornaments!). They make all vegetarians and vegans just look insane.
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..New in the shop! =-.
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Michelle added these pithy words on
Aug 18 09 at
11:48 am
I am a vegan and I appreciate a lot of the work that PETA and other rescue and animal welfare groups do. I even understand their mindset – they will do anything and go to any lenghts to ensure that animals are protected and to get their message face time. I actually share this mindset. If I had to defend one of my animals or speak up against animals being hurt, used or abused, not matter the cost, I probably would.
I don’t always agree with they way they send their message. They do try to be shocking. And that shock value is almost necessary. If you saw Super Size Me you know how much money is spent by the dairy industry, the beef industry, agricultural companies, fast food companies and more. Without being shocking it would be hard to get the exposure anywhere NEAR what the “other” side pays for.
Some of their campaigns are going to fail, as in this case, because they are aimed at people personally. Some I think are more strategically sound. In this case, you are all correct – just because you don’t eat meat or animal secretions doesn’t mean you are going to be skinny or healthy.
I will still support PETA (as well as other groups) because I feel they do many other great things to help animals. They do alot of the hard work – going undercover to expose abuses, putting together lists of what companies test on animals and great vegetarian starter kits and recipes. But I will also try to be the type of (vegan) person who exemplifies the joy and compassion and peace that I feel by aligning my eating and lifestyle habits with my beliefs. I don’t have to contribute to the death or suffering of any animal*.
*Any animal meat or product you buy anywhere is going to have abuses connected to it. Marketing terms like free-range, etc. are just – that marketing speak to make you feel good about what you are buying and have no validity. Plus, even if they are local, grass fed, etc., you are still killing an animal or confining an animal just to eat it. Something that is not physically necessary.
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Princess Poochie added these pithy words on
Aug 18 09 at
1:31 pm
Are you fat? Full-figured? Plus size? If so, PETA wants to save you…because you’re a whale. http://bit.ly/3Sql18 (New at The Demoiselles)
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Jen added these pithy words on
Aug 18 09 at
4:16 pm
RT @TheDemoiselles: R U fat? Full-figured? Plus size? If so, PETA wants 2 save U…because U’re a whale. http://bit.ly/3Sql18 (Outrage!)
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lawjick added these pithy words on
Aug 18 09 at
4:20 pm
I think the problem with PETA lies in the fact that they don’t know where the line is. What they do, under normal circumstances, is good. I like the fact that they’re getting word out about animal mistreatment. But this?
Listen, I’m a vegetarian. I have been for eight years and while I did go veg for weight reasons, it’s not the ideal “diet” for people and it shouldn’t be marketed as such. It is, however, a lifestyle. It works for some, not for others… and this is the wrong way to get people on board.
Sorry, PETA, you’re wrong on this one.
.-= Jaime´s last blog ..Denim Deal of the Day: Men’s Edition =-.
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Jaime added these pithy words on
Aug 18 09 at
4:28 pm
i’m totally over peta and i have been for quite some time.
.-= thefatandskinny´s last blog ..Start Spreading The News… =-.
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thefatandskinny added these pithy words on
Aug 18 09 at
4:32 pm
RT @TheDemo\iselles: Fat? Full-figured? Plus size? If so, PETA wants to save you, you’re a whale. http://bit.ly/3Sql18 (Article Outrage!)
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lmpenner added these pithy words on
Aug 18 09 at
5:10 pm
Article Outrage: Save the Whales, Screw the Rest of Us | The …: “Our goal is help overweight Jacksonville resi.. http://bit.ly/195C0
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Casey RawAndFit added these pithy words on
Aug 18 09 at
5:48 pm
This is not provocative, just cruel. Speaking as someone who gained 30 pounds on a necessary medication then lost it when I went off the meds (without any dietary changes), I wait for the day when the medical community will admit that not everyone who is overweight overeats or is inactive. And I’m SICK of society equating overweight with lazy, fat and stupid.
This pisses me off. I think I’ll eat a big steak tomorrow.
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Elle Reply:
August 18th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
ATTA GIRL! I’m glad that we have a community of conscious, strong women who can see through the BS!
.-= Elle´s last blog ..Article Outrage: Save the Whales, Screw the Rest of Us =-.
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Lisa added these pithy words on
Aug 18 09 at
8:36 pm
@thecoveted Yay for blogher! I posted about it this morning too at @TheDemoiselles: http://bit.ly/3Sql18 The whole ‘verse is in an uproar!
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Jen added these pithy words on
Aug 18 09 at
9:24 pm
Eating a “big steak” in revenge or retribution doesn’t punish the PETA peole. It is killing a cow. How does that make a positive statement?
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Elle Reply:
August 18th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
It’s not for “revenge or retribution” – it’s because she wants one. And just because PETA says that she shouldn’t have one (even if its ethically raised, etc) does not mean that it’s spiteful or “in your face meat eating”, etc. I was simply applauding her independent thought in the face of exceptionally patronizing advertising.
.-= Elle´s last blog ..Article Outrage: Save the Whales, Screw the Rest of Us =-.
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Elle Reply:
August 18th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
We should be able to applaud independent thought regardless of which way it goes. My commendation of Lisa’s decision does not equate to my disapproval of the opposite decision.
.-= Elle´s last blog ..Article Outrage: Save the Whales, Screw the Rest of Us =-.
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Poochie added these pithy words on
Aug 18 09 at
9:28 pm
Why doesn’t PETA do a little bit of research before putting out ridiculous ads like these? I guess that would be asking too much. It’s just that statements in ads like these can easily be rebutted (as they are now and should be) and loses its effectiveness. Plus, it turns me off. I’m all for being healthy and trying to lose my unhealthy eating habits and I have plenty, but I know that I won’t necessarily become healthy if I go vegetarian. All I have to do is look at my friend who inhales an entire cheese pizza in one sitting or my vegan friend who can’t put down her vegan cake. Each of us are unhealthy in our own right and we ain’t skinny minis. Good job, PETA.
.-= Sheena´s last blog ..Breathtaking: Alaïa F/W 09 =-.
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Sheena added these pithy words on
Aug 19 09 at
12:04 pm
FYI, I’m an animal lover. I rescue dogs and cats and donate my $ and time to animal rescue groups. While I’m not a vegan, I do restrict my purchases to farms where animals are ethically raised.
But I dislike PETA for several reasons:
1) They use celebrity sponsors in protest ads when those same celebrities have no problem wearing leather or buying the latest leather “it” bag.
2) They promote kindness to animals but deny the same to overweight humans by name calling and mocking.
3) They patronize anyone who does not agree 100% with them.
They will gain more respect and win converts if they learn to be authentic and caring for all living creatures.
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Lisa added these pithy words on
Aug 19 09 at
3:49 pm
That is absolutely sickening. I can’t even wrap my mind around how a company would think that advertising like that would reach ANYBODY. I’m sure that it must be a huge put-off to vegetarians, too, because there is a lot more to that than getting “skinny” – and, as Ev’Yan pointed out, going veggie isn’t the way to a perfect figure.
It’s stuff like this that makes me so sick. And I’d really, really like to find one person who looked at that billboard and thought, “Hmm. That makes sense! I think I’ll become a vegetarian now!” Seriously. I can’t think of one demographic that wouldn’t be offended by this.
I have little to no respect for anything PETA has done recently. It’s too bad they can’t find a peaceful and non-insulting way to prove their points.
.-= wishcake´s last blog ..on a video blog (AKA: my wicked attempt at using iMovie)… =-.
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wishcake added these pithy words on
Aug 19 09 at
8:41 pm
As a vegan I’m so embarassed by PETA! Grrr! They are such assholes.
.-= anardana´s last blog ..Lemon Macadamia Wedding Cake =-.
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anardana added these pithy words on
Aug 19 09 at
9:22 pm
Me either!! Rt @wishcake I have little to no respect for PETA right now: http://bit.ly/dST2P
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Michelle added these pithy words on
Aug 20 09 at
1:54 am
I have little to no respect for PETA right now: http://bit.ly/dST2P (via @wishcake) brutal
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FabBrunette added these pithy words on
Aug 20 09 at
1:59 am
I thought you guys might like this:
http://whatswrittenonmybody.blogspot.com/2009/08/standing-up-to-fat-phobia-peta-style.html
I can see where Princess Poochie is coming from, but I just don’t agree. Human rights are more important to me than animal rights and there is NO excuse for sexism, racism, or sizism, especially when our society already quietly condones those standards. Not to mention, how much money must they spend on these ad campaigns? They could have donated that money to a no-kill shelter or a home for rehabilitated farm animals, but instead they’re using it for shock value that doesn’t bring ANYONE around to their cause. Way to go, PETA.
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Guest Post at the Demoiselles! =-.
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Michelle added these pithy words on
Aug 20 09 at
1:46 pm
And another good post about racism and sexism via PeTA:
http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/02/10/peta-racism-goes-into-overload/
I just don’t think what they do is excusable – if it was just THIS ONE TIME, it might not be as big of a deal (though still reprehensible), but it’s a systematic series of sexist, racist campaigns. You know what? Women of all sizes and people of all colors deserve just as much compassion as animals tortured at factory farms.
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Michelle added these pithy words on
Aug 20 09 at
2:08 pm
This is a joke, right?
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MY Fashion Frenzy added these pithy words on
Aug 20 09 at
4:42 pm
For PETA, women are indispensable, whether they are plus size or slim. They caged bikini-clad slim women to “save chicken”. I labelled it as strip chicks, save chicken.
.-= Freya´s last blog ..Just some quickies =-.
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Freya added these pithy words on
Aug 20 09 at
11:38 pm
how about i gained 20 pounds when I became a vegetarian.
this billbord is terrible and degrading.
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blackediction added these pithy words on
Aug 28 09 at
7:16 pm
Jennifer Nicole Reply:
August 18th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Ashe: I totally agree. The antibiotic-stuffing is often done with milk cows: they get sick, and farmers load them up with antibiotics and keep them on the milking line. Organic milk requires that sick cows be taken off the line and come back to health before they’re milked again.
That’s what *really* turned me off to antibiotics in beef products and by-products.
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