Over the last week, Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Xavier Rudd has been in the centre of a controversy surrounding his 2004 song “Let Me Be” featuring in a KFC ad. His fans got enraged due to the fact that Rudd has been a strong endorser of animal rights and has always condemned animal cruelty. PETA, the animal rights organisation that Rudd avidly supports, has issued a statement asking the artist to withdraw his song from the KFC TV advertisement.

The fast-food giant is promoting its “Home Cricket Ground” range in the ad. Rudd’s song plays in the background that illustrates a summer day with family, playing cricket at the backyard and enjoying some KFC.

“We know Xavier to be a kind person, and so we hope that he has not approved the use of his music for promoting KFC. If he has, we would ask him to reconsider supporting a business which is bad for the animals, the environment and human health,” PETA said in an exclusive statement to theMusic.

Rudd’s song appearing in the advertisement has confused many of his fans. His Facebook page has filled up with comments from fans, some demanding an explanation while some showing their disappointment.

So when do we get a statement as to why your music is used on a fast food chain's advertisement? A little disappointing.......

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Ironically, Rudd was voted Australia’s Sexiest Vegetarian in 2008 by PETA. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, he also picked up a “Rock The Boat” award from Sea Shepherd Conservation Society for his support for anti-whaling activists. Naturally, this has enraged his fans. Another probable reason for taking offence is that PETA, in 2001, launched a campaign against KFC for their treatment of chicken and named the campaign “Kentucky Fried Cruelty.”

Rudd has a strong fan base in Australia and Canada. He has performed several live shows and recorded several albums in these two regions. He is quite popular on the music circuit in North America, Australia and throughout Europe. The interesting point will be how he would explain the controversy to his fans.

Rudd is yet to comment on the matter yet.

Source: YouTube/ KFCAustralia

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