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Fur flies following Paltrow’s latest ad campaign

Posted in Advertising, Media, Marketing, Arif Durrani, Latest reporters' blogs August 19th, 2008 by Arif Durrani

The slow month of August is traditionally known as the silly season for the UK’s media, but it appears this year actress Gwyneth Paltrow decided to take the term rather literally.

At exactly what point the wife of vegetarian and Cold Play singer Chris Martin  decided it’d be a good idea to promote fox furs in ads for Italian luxury goods company Tod’s is unclear. It probably coincided with talks of rather large seven-figure numbers.

Regardless, what is becoming clear very quickly is the huge backlash the 35-year-old now faces. Google finds more than four thousand articles that have been written about the controversial modelling, less than 48 hours after the campaign came to light.

Coverage has spanned the globe, from San Francisco to Mumbai and Sydney to Milan, and the star of Sliding Doors, Shakespeare in Love and Se7en has gone to ground.

A spokesman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) comments: “Gwyneth Paltrow won’t be the apple of her daughter’s eye if she flaunts the skins of once-beautiful animals.

“Promoting an industry that electrocutes animals, snaps their necks, and skins them alive is a shocking example to set for a young child. We’ve written to Paltrow many times and sent her videos that show how animals suffer when they are killed for their fur, but we have never received a response. Apparently, Paltrow’s beauty really is only skin deep.”

Paltrow, who along with husband Martin, has won appreciation for her green credentials, is also known to be close friends with Stella McCartney, the designer and the daughter of Sir Paul McCartney and the late animal rights activist Linda McCartney.

In the ads, the international star is photographed draped in fox fur and wearing fur-lined boots. The luxury goods company also uses ostrich and snakeskin in its products, and describes itself as “refined, understated luxury, impeccable taste and enviable quality”.

The actress will also be hoping to avoid Girls Aloud’s Sarah Harding, who reportedly ranted at a West End store this week after spotting a fur jacket for sale in the shop.

News International’s thelondonpaper reports the singer said: “I wouldn’t be seen dead wearing that, it’s disgusting to wear fur and it simply should not be allowed.”

Adding rather poignantly: “If I did wear that, the papers would crucify me.”