PETA Comes For Aretha Franklin’s Fur Collection

Aretha Franklin hasn’t been dead for a month and PETA is already reaching out to her estate. The animal rights organization wants Franklin’s family to give her fur collection to PETA’s donation program, which distributes collected items to refugees, homeless and wildlife rehab facilities.

“PETA sent a letter asking the late Aretha Franklin’s estate to donate her vast fur coat collection to PETA’s fur donation program which sends furs to people in need in refugee camps and at homeless shelters as well as to wildlife rehabilitation facilities, which turn them into bedding for orphaned wildlife,” the organization announced in a press release Friday (Aug. 24).

Franklin’s family hasn’t accept the offer, but if they do the letter states that the Queen of Soul will “posthumously join” other celebrities “who have donated unwanted fur coats to PETA” including Anjelica Huston, Mariah Carey, Kim Cattrall, Mary Tyler Moore and Sharon Osbourne.

“By donating Aretha Franklin’s fur coats to PETA, her family could expand her legacy of social justice to animals,” PETA’s Executive President Tracy Reiman added. “While we can’t bring back the animals who suffered and died for them, these coats can help others by providing some much-needed warmth to orphaned animals and humans in desperate need.”

The 76-year-old music legend died from pancreatic cancer on Aug. 16. Her funeral will be held in her hometown of Detroit, at the end of the month.

Reiman penned a letter to Franklin’s nice, Sabrina Garrett Owens, urging her to turn over the furs and “secure Aretha forever as an ‘Angel’ for animals.’” Read the full letter below.

Dear Sabrina,

We’re so sorry for the loss of your aunt. The world has lost an amazing talent, and we’re grateful that her music will live on.

Aretha will always be remembered for all that she did to help empower African-American people, especially women, in her lifetime. Might we now call on her estate to help end the cruel era of wearing animal fur by donating her fur coats to PETA, where they’ll go on to offer warmth and comfort to those who need it the most? In the past, we’ve given donated fur coats—some coming from other wonderful women including Anjelica Huston, Mariah Carey, and Mary Tyler Moore—to homeless shelters in the U.S. (including in Detroit) and to displaced refugees in Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Syria.

Designers, brands, and stores are dropping fur as quickly as consumers are ditching it. As faux fur and other cruelty-free, vegan materials take over, real animal fur can be put to good use, and this generous donation would secure Aretha forever as an “Angel” for animals.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Please let us know if there’s anything that we can do to help you and your family through this difficult time.

Best regards,

Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman, PETA