Jacksonville Jaguars’ Maurice Jones-Drew Joins PETA’s Star Lineup

Running Back Sports Only His Tattoos in ‘Ink, Not Mink’ Anti-Fur Campaign

For Immediate Release:
November 5, 2013

Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382 

Jacksonville, Fla. – Jacksonville Jaguars’ Maurice Jones-Drew knows what it takes to be tough on the field—and now he’s tackling the fur industry in a brand-new PETA ad that shows the bare-chested and tattooed running back clutching a football beneath the words “Ink, Not Mink. Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin, and Let Animals Keep Theirs.” The ad, which was shot by top celebrity photographer Sabin Orr, is available here.

Jones-Drew also sat down for an exclusive PETA interview in which he opens up about how his own dogs inspired him to get involved with PETA’s anti-fur campaign. “I have three dogs, and to see some of the videos or go online and research how animals are treated for fur, the cruelty is worse than torture,” he explains. “I think it’s right that NFL players—with the platform that we have—can [spread] awareness that animals have lives and souls and they go through pain and suffering just as humans do.”  

As for people who wear fur? “You don’t know how expensive it is,” Jones-Drew says. “Lives are priceless. And so for you to go out and wear a fox fur or a dog fur—whatever it may be—lives have been taken for that.”

PETA and Jones-Drew want shoppers to know that every year, millions of animals, including foxes, minks, raccoons, rabbits, chinchillas, and even cats and dogs, are electrocuted, beaten, drowned, strangled, and skinned alive for their fur. For every piece of fur—whether it’s a full-length coat or a bit of trim on a collar or cuff—animals suffered immensely.

Jones-Drew joins a growing list of top athletes—including Terrell Suggs, Willis McGahee, Tony Gonzalez, Aaron Curry, Amar’e Stoudemire, Michael Strahan, Gilbert Arenas, “Sugar” Shane Mosley, and Tito Ortiz—who have teamed up with PETA to fight cruelty to animals.

Broadcast-quality footage of Jones-Drew’s interview can be downloaded here. For more information, please visit PETA.org.