
Last updated: Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Animal rights activists at PETA have asked MICHAEL JACKSON's family to let them have the King of Pop's rat song BEN as a new anthem.
Michael Jackson (photo supplied by WENN.com)
The late pop superstar had a hit with the odd tune in the early 1970s, when he was still a member of the Jackson 5, and now PETA bosses want to use the ballad to raise awareness of the plight of rodents used in laboratory experiments.
The tune, written for the 1972 film of the same name, is about the friendship between a lonely boy and his pet rat.
PETA executive vice president Tracy Reiman tells WENN, "Michael Jackson's hit has always been a moving testament to the power of empathy for animals.
"If more people could be inspired by his song to stop supporting the cruel and ineffective animal-testing industry, it would be a fitting and enduring tribute to this talented performer."
- JACKSON IS LAID TO REST AMONG THE STARS
- WINFREY TO DEDICATE SHOW TO JACKSON
- JACKSON VIDEO WAS A HOAX
- JACKSON'S DEATH CERTIFICATE AMENDED
- FASCINATING FACT:
- JACKSON'S THIS IS IT WAXWORK TO BE UNVEILED IN HOLLYWOOD
- LESTER: 'CORONER'S FINDINGS ARE ABSOLUTELY HORRENDOUS'
- DOCTOR'S LAWYER RESPONDS TO JACKSON 'HOMICIDE' REPORTS
- DOCTOR TOOK PILL BOXES FROM JACKSON'S HOTEL SUITE PHARMACY
- JACKSON ASKED DOCTOR TO CONSIDER HAVING HIS FOURTH CHILD
Source: WENN
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS:
THE THINGS THEY SAY: TIMBALAND
'I had an opportunity to work with Michael coming up, before the tour, and it's been wild. The same thing happened to me when I was supposed to work with Biggie Smalls before he passed. It's kind of a sad day... but a good day because his music lives on.'
MORE NEWS:
. GRINT STARSTRUCK BY OBAMA
. DVDS THIS WEEK
. ACADEMY AWARDS BOSSES MOVE HONORARY PRIZE TO NOVEMBER DINNER
. MOTOWN LEGENDS REMEMBER JACKSON
. CHOPRA WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT JACKSON'S 'GREAT NEWS' WAS
. BET BOSSES UNDER FIRE FOR LIL WAYNE PERFORMANCE
. LIMP BIZKIT COMEBACK CALLED OFF - FOR NOW
. HEADACHES AS FANS SWOOP ON JACKSON'S WALK OF FAME STAR
. JACKSON GIG-GOERS WILL GET FULL REFUND
. JACKSON FANS 'COMMIT SUICIDE'


