Two high profile celebrities with affiliations to animal rights groups have joined KFC’s latest Australian marketing campaigns.

Professed vegetarian rock-star Benji Madden, who has been regarded as a supporter of ‘People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ (PETA), an animal rights group well known for the “Kentucky Fried Cruelty” catch-phrase, has been appointed as the new spokesperson for the KFC fast food chain. Benji and his brother Joel from Good Charlotte are part of the “KFC Good Times” campaign, encouraging consumers to provide inspiration on the KFC Facebook page for a new Good Charlotte song about “what it means to have a good time in Australia.”

Just days after the news, Meatless Monday campaigner and tennis icon Pat Cash has been named as co-host of the KFC sponsored Summer Session show on Triple M radio.

Mr Cash had previously taken the pledge to refrain from eating meat on Mondays and had been encouraging other Australians to follow suit.

PETA campaign coordinator Claire Fryer said that she hoped the Good Charlotte boys “would consider the ramifications” before signing the next endorsement deal with KFC.

Ms Fryer said that the celebrity endorsers were not only “irresponsibly” promoting cruelty, but also obesity, diabetes, and heart-disease due to meat-centred diets.

However, KFC spokesperson Matthew Gain told Australian Food News that KFC was “proud of its association with Pat Cash and the Maddens,” and dismissed any cruelty claims, saying that the Maddens were not “currently involved” with PETA.

“KFC Australia invests considerable time identifying and selecting reputable Australian chicken suppliers. All of our suppliers are members of the Australian Chicken Meat Federation (ACMF) and are required to adhere to the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals, Domestic Poultry,” Mr Gain said.

Share