International Advocacy Group, Friends of Animals, Challenges Figure Skater Johnny Weir to Stop Wearing Fur

DARIEN, Conn., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Friends of Animals (FoA), an international animal advocacy group founded in 1957, sent an open letter to Olympic hopeful, Johnny Weir.

The American skater is on a quest for the gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. During an interview with the New York Times, Weir boasted smugly that he "looked pretty" in his outfit, which visibly showed fur obtained from a fox on his sleeves.

In the letter, FoA President Priscilla Feral bluntly criticized Weir's love-affair with fur, stating, "Please consider that there's nothing pretty about the fox that suffered and died to trim your outfit. The beautiful fox was likely anally electrocuted, or may have had its head bashed in, only to serve as decoration for someone's performance."

The Olympic optimist not only parades in full length furs, but has  been known to taunt his adversaries by sending them hand-drawn caricatures of animals with x's over their eyes in retaliation.

Friends of Animals is urging Weir to stop wearing fur, not only for the sake of animals, but for his own Olympic ambitions. Critics say his admiration for furs have quickly put him in the hot seat and have even over-shadowed his chances for placement in Vancouver.

"In the end, nobody cares what a figure skater wears. You will only be judged on your performance and the strength of your character," added Feral.

Link: (http://www.friendsofanimals.org/news/2010/january/open-letter-to-ameri.html)

Media Contact: Anai Rhoads at (703) 969-8560 or [email protected].

Friends of Animals is a non-profit, international animal advocacy organization, founded in 1957. Friends of Animals works to cultivate a respectful view of nonhuman animals, free-living and domestic. Our goal is to free animals from cruelty and institutionalized exploitation around the world.

SOURCE Friends of Animals