1. Headline
  1. Headline
Image: PETA van with picture of Michelle Obama
blog.peta.org
Michelle Obama appears in a new PETA ad with celebrities Oprah Winfrey, Carrie Underwood and Tyra Banks. The White House says Mrs. Obama's image is being used without her permission.
updated 1/5/2010 5:03:21 PM ET 2010-01-05T22:03:21

The fur is flying over a new ad campaign by an animal rights group the White House says is using first lady Michelle Obama's image without her permission.

The president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Ingrid Newkirk, said her organization wouldn't have sought Mrs. Obama's consent for the anti-fur ad because it knows that she can't make such an endorsement.

PETA included the first lady in its Washington ad campaign based on White House confirmation that she does not wear fur.

Mrs. Obama appears in the ad with celebrities Oprah Winfrey, Carrie Underwood and Tyra Banks — three others who have shunned fur. The ads are appearing in Washington's Metro stations, magazines and PETA's Web site.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Photos: 2012

loading photos...
  1. First lady fashion

    First lady Michelle Obama looks as sophisticated in designer dresses as she does in outfits from J. Crew. Here is a look at her signature style.

    First Lady Michelle Obama, decked out in an elegant red gown, stands by BET honoree author Maya Angelou at the BET Honors in Washington on Jan. 14. (Joshua Roberts / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
  2. Michelle Obama — sleek in black — and "iCarly" actress Miranda Cosgrove pose for a photo backstage at a special military family screening of Nickelodeon's "iCarly: iMeet The First Lady" at Hayfield Secondary School on Jan.13 in Alexandria, Virginia. (Paul Morigi / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  3. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, wearing a Tracy Reese dress, walk across the tarmac to board Air Force One on Jan. 2, in Honolulu, en route to Washington after a family vacation. (Carolyn Kaster / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
  1. Editor's note:
    This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.

    Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away.

  2. Editor's note:
    This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.

    Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away.

  3. Editor's note:
    This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.

    Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away.

  4. Editor's note:
    This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.

    Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away.

  1. Image: Michelle Obama stands by BET honoree Maya Angelou at the BET Honors in Washington
    Joshua Roberts / Reuters
    Above: Slideshow (3) Michelle Obama's effortless style - 2012
  2. Image: U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama step aboard the USS Arizona Memorial where they tossed flowers into Pearl Harbor
    Jason Reed / Reuters
    Slideshow (61) Michelle Obama's effortless style - 2011
  3. Image: First Lady Michelle Obama Presents National Medals For Museum And Library Service
    Alex Wong / Getty Images
    Slideshow (54) Michelle Obama's effortless style - 2010
  4. Image: Carrie Underwood, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Tyra Banks
    Anonymous / AP
    Slideshow (49) Michelle Obama's effortless style - 2009
  5. BARBARA WALTERS, BARACK OBAMA, MICHELLE OBAMA
    George Burns / AP
    Slideshow (13) Michelle Obama's effortless style - 2008

Discuss:

Discussion comments

,

Most active discussions

  1. votes comments
  2. votes comments
  3. votes comments
  4. votes comments

More on TODAY.com

None
  1. Retired cop: I know Zodiac Killer’s name

    video A former California highway patrolman has written a book in which he claims a 91-year-old man who died this year was the famed Zodiac Killer, who killed at least five people in the San Francisco area in the 1960s. NBC’s Mike Taibbi reports.

    5/26/2012 2:42:50 PM +00:00 2012-05-26T14:42:50
None
  1. TODAY

    video Do crying babies make you sharper?

    5/26/2012 2:39:26 PM +00:00 2012-05-26T14:39:26
None
  1. Biographer claims Prince William scarred by parent’s marriage

    video The author of a new book about the life of Prince William says that the royal most likely to ascend to the throne was scarred by his parent’s marital problems, and long-believed he might not ever settle down. NBC’s Duncan Golestani reports.

    5/26/2012 2:55:41 PM +00:00 2012-05-26T14:55:41
None
  1. TODAY

    video ‘Hunger Games’ comes to life?

    5/26/2012 2:46:43 PM +00:00 2012-05-26T14:46:43
None
  1. Stuntman falls 2,400 feet without chute

    video TODAY’s Jenna Wolfe speaks with stuntman Gary Connery, the first person to drop out of a helicopter wearing a “wing suit” and land without deploying a parachute.

    5/26/2012 2:45:01 PM +00:00 2012-05-26T14:45:01
None
  1. Is suspect in Etan Patz murder sane?

    video A lawyer for a 51-year-old New Jersey man accused of killing 6-year-old Etan Patz in New York City 33 years ago says his client has mental health problems that may come into play during his prosecution. Former FBI profiler Clint van Zandt discusses the case.

    5/26/2012 2:49:53 PM +00:00 2012-05-26T14:49:53