Hollywood’s newest lovebirds have a lot in common. Besides being super famous, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian have a shared enemy: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

In March, a woman screaming, ‘Fur hag’ doused Kardashian in flour at the London Hotel in West Hollywood. PETA denied involvement in the incident, but the organization offered to pay the woman’s legal fees if charges were pressed, according to articles in March 23 Daily Mail and April 2 Daily Beast.

Then, earlier this month, a lyric in the chorus of Kanye’s new song, ‘Way Too Cold,’ caused some trouble. West rapped: ‘Tell PETA my mink is draggin’ on the floor.’

This direct provocation of the organization caused the group’s senior vice president Dan Matthews to respond.

‘What’s draggin’ on the floor is Kanye’s reputation as a man with no empathy for animals or human beings,’ Matthews said in an April 6 ABC News article. He added, ‘While he is a great musician, he doesn’t seem to have the fashion sense to design anything more than caveman costumes.’  

West’s spring 2012 collection featured a lot of fur and leather, which critics said made it look heavy and overwrought. Though attacking West’s work was a low blow on PETA’s part, I am not saying I’m on Kanye’s side.

What society and the fashion industry need are not more inflammatory lyrics, flinging of flour or vandalism. They need a calm conversation about the ethics of fur and governmental action to enforce regulation of the fur industry.

I don’t believe that the killing of animals for food or other practical purposes is inherently evil, but many practices in today’s fur industry are unethical.

Eighty-five percent of the industry’s skins come from factory farms where animals are kept. They often live cramped in tiny, dirty cages in disease-ridden barns. In addition, animals are often slaughtered in cruel ways like electrocution or poisoning in the interest of keeping the animal’s coat or fur intact, according to PETA’s website.

Though these atrocities are horrific, PETA’s approach to stopping them is unrealistic and unreasonable. The organization does not seek compromise with people who choose to sell, make and wear fur. Rather, it advocates for completely abandoning using fur for clothing. People have the right to wear fur if they choose, and a look at the Fashion Week shows this past February and March reveals that luxurious pelts are as trendy as ever.

Activists should instead focus their energy on promoting programs like Origin Assured. OA labeled furs have been certified by the International Fur Trade Federation as coming from countries that regulate or standardize fur production, according to its website.

OA labeling seems to be a step in the right direction. Depending on the regulations of the individual country, the label assures customers that the fur they are buying comes from sources that treat the animals in a humane way. It also protects customers from falsely labeled or low-quality fur that comes from countries with little regulation, like China.

Sadly, change does not come quickly. At the moment, becoming fur-free may be the only way to avoid contributing to cruelty, but that is the choice of the individual.

Kanye has every right to drag his mink on the floor, but he should set an example for the fashion industry and consumers by at least ensuring his mink is ethically produced.

Ian Simon-Curry is a sophomore public relations major. His column appears occasionally. He hopes you will not come after him with a bucket of red paint. Follow him on Twitter at @incrediblyian. He can be reached at insimonc@syr.edu.

Published on April 29, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Ian: insimonc@syr.edu