TORONTO — Pop star Ke$ha — an outspoken animal rights advocate — is under fire for bringing illegal ivory in the U.S.
The 26-year-old singer brought a “snuff bottle” made of elephant ivory into the country following a tour of Japan, according to a report by Radar.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security seized the contraband, valued at $500, on Aug. 27, 2012.
That same year, Ke$ha was named Humane Society International’s first global ambassador for animals.
“One of the main underlying sentiments of my music is to respect all living creatures just as they are,” she said in a Oct. 29, 2012 press release. “I believe that together, we can change laws that allow innocent animals to be unjustly mistreated and abused all over the world.”
In 1989, 115 countries agreed to ban the international trade of ivory.
Ke$ha has been a vocal opponent of shark finning, dogfighting and Canada’s annual seal hunt. She has also actively promoted the conservation of polar bears and preservation of coral reef.
It appears the “Die Young” singer simply made a mistake.
Humane Society of the United States vice president Michelle Cho told Radar Ke$ha was unaware the trinket she bought at a thrift shop was made of ivory.
“It is not uncommon for even the most dedicated animal lover to mistakenly buy ivory when they think it’s another material,” Cho is quoted as saying.
According to Cho, 35,000 African elephants were killed in 2013 for their tusks.
Ke$ha, whose full name is Kesha Sebert, is currently in an Illinois rehab facility.
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