Pete Davidson, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga and More Celebrities Who’ve Feuded With PETA Over the Years

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Pete Davidson, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga and More Celebrities Who've Feuded With PETA Over the Years

Feuds as wild as the jungle. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has never been afraid to call out celebrities for their actions towards wildlife and pets. Pete Davidson caught slack from the nonprofit organization in June 2023 after he was seen buying a cavapoo puppy from a pet store with girlfriend Chase Sui Wonders. At the time, PETA’s senior vice president of cruelty investigations, Daphna Nachminovitch, exclusively told Us Weekly that the Saturday Night Live alum’s decision to purchase his pet rather than adopt was “tragic” because “a scrappy New Yorker with charm, personality and unconventional handsomeness could have been his perfect match.” He continued: “Since shelters in New York and across the country are overflowing with homeless animals, PETA urges Pete to show some big heart energy by adopting, not shopping, in the future.” Davidson, for his part, slammed the organization’s criticism by leaving Nachminovitch a heated voicemail. “I just want to let you know I’m severely allergic to dogs, so I have to get a specific breed,” the King of Staten Island star explained in an audio clip. “I’m only not allergic to cavapoos and those types of dogs. And my mom’s f–king dog, who was 2 years old, died a week prior, and we’re all so sad, so I had to get a specific dog. So, why don’t you do your research before you f–king create news stories for people because you’re a boring, tired c–t. F–k you and suck my d–k.” The Meet Cute actor welcomed his new furry friend in June 2023, one month after his family mourned the loss of their beloved pup Henry, whom he called “the happiest and sweetest dog” via an Instagram message shared on his friend Dave Sirus’ account. [sendtonews type="float" key="QuznKGuXsd-2827274-14453"] While other stars such as Rihanna, Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez have been scrutinized for wearing real fur and animal skin clothing and accessories, PETA targeted Lady Gaga in June 2014 after she shared snaps of her French Bulldog, Asia, posing in bejeweled headpieces, necklaces and earrings via Instagram. “Lady Gaga may choose to decorate herself with elaborate and even uncomfortable outfits, but Asia doesn’t get to make that choice,” a rep for the organization told Us in a statement at the time. “Although it seems pretty clear that Lady Gaga loves Asia, we think Asia—and all dogs—are adorable without all the added flair. The best accessory for any dog is a comfortable, secure, well-fitting harness, which is perfect for long walks together.” The A Star is Born actress also received heavy backlash for sporting her now-infamous meat dress at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. While PETA president Ingrid E. Newkirk called the look “offensive,” Gaga clarified she did not attend to disrespect vegans or vegetarians with her out-of-the-box look. “As you know, I am the most judgment-free human being on the earth," the Grammy winner told Ellen DeGeneres after the September 2010 awards show. "However, it has many interpretations, but for me this evening, if we don't stand up for what we believe in and if we don't fight for our rights, pretty soon we're going to have as much rights as the meat on our bones. And, I am not a piece of meat." Scroll below to see which other stars have beef with PETA:

Credit: Shutterstock(3)

Pete Davidson, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga and More Celebrities Who've Feuded With PETA Over the Years

Feuds as wild as the jungle. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has never been afraid to call out celebrities for their actions towards wildlife and pets. Pete Davidson caught slack from the nonprofit organization in June 2023 after he was seen buying a cavapoo puppy from a pet store with girlfriend Chase Sui Wonders. At the time, PETA’s senior vice president of cruelty investigations, Daphna Nachminovitch, exclusively told Us Weekly that the Saturday Night Live alum’s decision to purchase his pet rather than adopt was “tragic” because “a scrappy New Yorker with charm, personality and unconventional handsomeness could have been his perfect match.” He continued: “Since shelters in New York and across the country are overflowing with homeless animals, PETA urges Pete to show some big heart energy by adopting, not shopping, in the future.” Davidson, for his part, slammed the organization’s criticism by leaving Nachminovitch a heated voicemail. “I just want to let you know I’m severely allergic to dogs, so I have to get a specific breed,” the King of Staten Island star explained in an audio clip. “I’m only not allergic to cavapoos and those types of dogs. And my mom’s f–king dog, who was 2 years old, died a week prior, and we’re all so sad, so I had to get a specific dog. So, why don’t you do your research before you f–king create news stories for people because you’re a boring, tired c–t. F–k you and suck my d–k.” The Meet Cute actor welcomed his new furry friend in June 2023, one month after his family mourned the loss of their beloved pup Henry, whom he called “the happiest and sweetest dog” via an Instagram message shared on his friend Dave Sirus’ account. [sendtonews type="float" key="QuznKGuXsd-2827274-14453"] While other stars such as Rihanna, Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez have been scrutinized for wearing real fur and animal skin clothing and accessories, PETA targeted Lady Gaga in June 2014 after she shared snaps of her French Bulldog, Asia, posing in bejeweled headpieces, necklaces and earrings via Instagram. “Lady Gaga may choose to decorate herself with elaborate and even uncomfortable outfits, but Asia doesn’t get to make that choice,” a rep for the organization told Us in a statement at the time. “Although it seems pretty clear that Lady Gaga loves Asia, we think Asia—and all dogs—are adorable without all the added flair. The best accessory for any dog is a comfortable, secure, well-fitting harness, which is perfect for long walks together.” The A Star is Born actress also received heavy backlash for sporting her now-infamous meat dress at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. While PETA president Ingrid E. Newkirk called the look “offensive,” Gaga clarified she did not attend to disrespect vegans or vegetarians with her out-of-the-box look. “As you know, I am the most judgment-free human being on the earth," the Grammy winner told Ellen DeGeneres after the September 2010 awards show. "However, it has many interpretations, but for me this evening, if we don't stand up for what we believe in and if we don't fight for our rights, pretty soon we're going to have as much rights as the meat on our bones. And, I am not a piece of meat." Scroll below to see which other stars have beef with PETA:

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Pete Davidson

The Bupkis star slammed PETA after they called him out for buying his new dog at a pet store rather than adopting one from an animal shelter.

In a voicemail to Nachminovitch, Davidson explained that allergies influenced his choice of dog. “I’m only not allergic to cavapoos and those type of dogs. And my mom’s f–king dog, who was 2 years old, died a week prior, and we’re all so sad, so I had to get a specific dog," he said in an audio clip. "So, why don’t you do your research before you f–king create news stories for people because you’re a boring, tired c–t. F–k you and suck my d–k.”

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Lady Gaga

In addition to receiving backlash for her 2010 VMAs meat dress, the "Born This Way" singer declared in August 2012 that she would not comment on whether the fur and animal skin clothing she wore was fake or not.

"I would think it [hypocritical] not to acknowledge the python, ostrich, cowhide, leather, lamb, alligator, ‘Kermit’ and not to mention meat, that I have already worn,” she explained in a message via her Little Monsters website at the time. “This should already put me in a category as one who appreciates and adores the beauty of animals in fashion, but am not a strict vegan.”

While she noted that she does not buy "skinned fur” products, Gaga said she still considers them pieces of art. “You see a carcass, I see a museum piece de resistance," she continued. "But I am truly sorry to fans who are upset by this; it’s a fair and applaudable feeling about the health and safety of animals. I respect your views, please respect mine.”

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Kim Kardashian

Several years after she was flour-bombed by a PETA supporter in March 2012, the Kardashians star was praised by the nonprofit for having her fur coats remade with faux fur in June 2019.

However, the Skims founder came under fire in December 2022 after a since-deleted TikTok seemingly revealed that her two Pomeranians, Sushi and Sake, lived in her garage. "Knowing that Kim Kardashian is anti-fur and mostly vegan, we are hoping hard that she does not relegate her dogs to life in a garage,” PETA senior vice president Lisa Lange said in a statement in response to the video.

Lange continued: "What PETA does know is that dogs are highly social pack animals who need more than just soft beds and decorative stockings: They deserve to feel safe, loved, and to live inside the house as part of the family."

Kardashian did not comment on PETA’s response at the time.

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Beyoncé

The "Cuff It" singer is one of many stars PETA have publicly questioned stars about their choice to wear animal fur.  In 2006, she was surprised by protestors while out at dinner in New York City and was asked about her decision to include furs in her clothing line, House of Dereon. Years later, she earned points with PETA after encouraging her Instagram followers to eat vegan in 2018.

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Rihanna

Rihanna has had a few ups and downs with PETA over the years. She was awarded the Compassion in Fashion award in April 2020 for creating "chic and cruelty-free vegan clothing" for her latest Fenty capsule collection.

The tides turned in February 2023 after she was photographed sporting a fur coat. In response, PETA sent her a faux fur replacement.

"As a mother, you know what it's like to feel protective and to want to make sure no harm comes to your family," Lange wrote in a statement at the time. "Please understand that this desire — this instinct even — is shared by the minks, foxes, and rabbits who are torn away from their families and killed for their fur."

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Justin Bieber

PETA slammed the "Sorry" singer in October 2019 after he and his wife, Hailey Bieber (née Baldwin), spent $35,000 on two kittens. "Justin Bieber could inspire his fans around the world to save a life by adopting a cat from a local animal shelter — rather than fueling the dangerous demand for hybrid cats, contributing to the animal overpopulation crisis, and proving that when it comes to helping animals, his stance so far is ‘I don’t care,'" Lange said in a statement to Us.

Justin later responded via his Instagram Story, writing, “PETA can suck it.” He went on to state that the org should "focus on real problems," such as "poaching and animal brutality" rather than obsess over his pets.

Newkirk followed up his comments with another message from PETA, encouraging him to "think more deeply about" adoption. "When millions of animals are losing their lives every year because not enough people adopt — choosing instead to shop — the animal overpopulation crisis is a ‘real problem.’ That’s what ‘sucks,’” they wrote at the time.

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Jennifer Lopez

Lopez was criticized for sporting a custom Versace coat made to look like the Puerto Rican flag during her 2020 Super Bowl halftime show performance for its use of feathers. "This flag could have flown without killing birds," PETA tweeted at the time. "Dozens of birds were KILLED for this #SuperBowl #PepsiHalfTime performance. #SuperBowlLIV."

However, the org later backtracked its statement after a rep for Lopez clarified the garment was made of faux materials.

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Katy Perry

Perry's 2013 music video for her song "Roar" came under fire for its use of real animals on set. "What you may not know — as most people do not — is that animals used for entertainment in film and television endure horrific cruelty and suffer from extreme confinement and violent training methods," PETA's Merrilee Burke wrote in a letter at the time, adding that lights and filming equipment can traumatize animals and cause them stress and anxiety.

The "Firework" singer later released a statement of her own in response to PETA's concerns. "American Humane Association was on set for the filming of the above referenced music video, which used an elephant, a monkey, birds and a tiger," she wrote in a statement via the American Human Association. "After reviewing the reports, we believe that the Guidelines for the Safe Use of Animals in Filmed Media were followed and that no animal was harmed in the making of this music video."

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Jessica Simpson

"I'm thinking about getting a pet pig," the "I Wanna Love You Forever" singer tweeted in February 2010.  "Does this mean I'll have to give up pork?"

PETA was not a fan of the social media upload, as a rep for the group exclusively told Us at the time, "Pigs, who are smarter than dogs and every bit as sensitive to pain and stress, don't belong in Jessica's stomach or carted around as her latest accessory."

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Paris Hilton

Hilton earned the No. 1 spot on PETA's worst-dressed list in December 2005 for her fur usage. The org has also criticized her decision to shop for "designer dogs" rather than adopt when it comes to her pet dogs.

"PETA knows that Paris Hilton has a good heart and likely doesn’t realize that millions of dogs in animal shelters across the country are dying for want of a good home—or that miniature or 'teacup' dogs are often so inbred that they frequently suffer from painful and even life-threatening genetic defects," PETA posted via their website in September 2014. "We’ve written to her privately to offer to fix her up with any rescue dog she might ever want in the future and are certain that, next time, she’ll open her heart and her home to a homeless animal in need."

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Kelly Rowland

The former Destiny's Child member's April 2017 book signing was crashed by PETA protestors who called her out for donning several fur coats over the years.

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Gisele Bündchen

The model was bombarded by PETA protestors during her 2002 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show appearance. The members carried signs that read “Gisele: Fur Scum" in response to her recent partnership with the furrier Blackgama. After the incident, she swore off doing any fur campaigns.

"It put me in the driver’s seat, finally," she stated in a June 2018 Vogue cover story. "The universe comes to you and says, ‘Hello, maybe you should notice this.’ You need to be responsible for the choices you make.”

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Anna Wintour

The fashion giant's use of fur and animal skins has been heavily criticized by PETA over the years. Ahead of the 2023 Met Gala, Newkirk encouraged Wintour and the event's cochairs to discourage the use of animal materials.

“It’s past time for designers to get more creative—it’s what fashion is supposed to be all about—to be more innovative and to stop relying on birds and other animals who suffer terribly for their designs,” Newkirk wrote in an April statement via PETA's website. “PETA is hopeful that the Met Gala sponsors will show compassion to all animals by asking designers to stick to fabulous featherless materials, faux fur, and simulated skins.”

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Jennifer Lawrence

While discussing a scene from the film Winter's Bone — in which her character skinned a squirrel — Lawrence joked about whether the animal used in the movie was real or not in an April 2012 interview with Rolling Stone.

"I should say it wasn't real, for PETA," she told the outlet. "But screw PETA."

Newkirk responded to the joke on behalf of PETA not long after. "She's young and the plight of animals somehow hasn't yet touched her heart. As Henry David Thoreau said, 'The squirrel you kill in jest, dies in earnest,’” she told Gothamist at the time. "When people kill animals, it is the animals who are 'screwed,' not PETA, and one day I hope she will try to make up for any pain she might cause any animal who did nothing but try to eke out a humble existence in nature."

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Kanye West

West and fellow rapper The Game got backlash for their decision to use a photo of a skinned monkey to promote their 2022 collab "Eazy."

Responding to the photo, Newkirk said in a statement, “The photo is reminiscent of the monkeys PETA has found, sometimes heads, sometimes hands, sometimes the whole body, in meat markets around the world and it makes it clear that when you remove the fur you can’t miss that there’s a person in there, that they are fellow primates, and do not belong to us to abuse for any purpose — not in laboratories, roadside zoos, movies, or meat markets.”

West also called out the org in his 2012 song "Cold," stating, "Tell PETA my mink is draggin' on the floor."

PETA clapped back at the artist, stating he was "draggin'" his reputation and called him "a man with no empathy for animals or human beings."

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Kelis

“If I started wearing endangered animals like polar bear or orangutan then talk to me (which for the record I would not – I do believe in the preservation of endangered species),” the "Milkshake" singer wrote via a January 2010 blog post in response to PETA criticism. “But the minks and chinchilla that quite honestly are rodents and if [they] weren’t in the form of a coat, I would demand they be put to death anyway.”

She continued: “[By the way] it’s not just the look of fur. It’s warm as hell and feels glorious – ever rubbed faux fur on your body? Nothing luxurious about that.”

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Sarah Palin

The former governor of Alaska defended herself and her then 6-year-old son, Trig, after she posted a photo of him standing on their dog in January 2015. "Dear PETA, Chill. At least Trig didn’t eat the dog," she wrote via Facebook.

PETA responded via a statement on their website, writing, “It’s odd that anyone — let alone a mother — would find it appropriate to post such a thing, with no apparent sympathy for the dog in the photo."

The message continued: “Then again, PETA, along with everyone else, is used to the hard-hearted, seeming obliviousness of this bizarrely callous woman, who actually thought it appropriate to be filmed while turkeys were being slaughtered right behind her in full view of the camera.”