By: Sofia Gluck
PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, is well known for their eye-catching and discussion-stirring displays in response to animal cruelty. In late November they posted their newest campaign, an Urban Outfitters parody entitled Urban Outraged, featuring human leather rather than animal ones. The interactive site can be found here. A warning: it can be very graphic. They have multiple “clothing” listings with site features such as star reviews and a full menu. Clearly a mimic of online shopping sites, it reads as satirical.
PETA announced the launch of their website on Instagram and the post can be seen here. It is their latest response to fur and hide being stripped from animals for the purpose of making goods and leather. They specifically target Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People, all brands owned by Urban Outfitters Inc.
The purpose of the campaign is meant to make people uncomfortable. They clearly demonstrate how careless and cruel people who are stripping hide are within their product descriptions. It is grossly inhumane, much like the animal cruelty it is meant to display and inform people about.
However, PETA’s post on Instagram signaling the start of the site was not well-received. Instagram users responded with bringing light to the history of enslaved African Americans and how this cruel and heinous human leather actually happened to them. Users claimed it to be extremely insensitive and disrespectful, with PETA not having regarded U.S. history at all.
PETA did not respond to any comments, apologize or even address the situation again. It is a valid message: stop animal cruelty and don’t use animal leather when there are a variety of vegan alternatives. No animal nor human should suffer. But this entirely disturbing campaign was not received in the way they desired it to be. Insensitive to the point of it really happening to black slaves, graphic with the pop-up pictures of grisly images with no warning and executed without regard to how it affects people. PETA has a huge following, and fights against the harm of all beings, but this method was disturbing and not as effective as a campaign boycotting animal leather should have been.