Kesha urges Brazilians to join Humane Society International campaign

Kesha is urging Brazilian fans to boycott cosmetics firms which test products on animals.

The Tik Tok hitmaker is currently touring in South America and as part of a stop in Sao Paulo, she has given her support to Humane Society International's #BeCrueltyFree Brazil campaign.

On Sunday (25Jan15), she took time out of her touring duties to meet animal rights campaigners backstage at the Citibank Hall stadium and signed a #BeCrueltyFree pledge of support. She then took to social media to urge Brazilians to lobby their politicians and call for a full ban on cosmetics cruelty.

She said, "Animal testing is the beauty industry's ugly secret, and so it gives me such joy to be a part of the #BeCrueltyFree campaign to end this suffering.

"Country by country, #BeCrueltyFree is giving the world a makeover, with more than 30 countries so far having banned cruel cosmetics animal testing, but sadly not yet here in Brazil. The wonderful Brazilian people have shown they want a complete ban, no loop-holes or half measures. So now they need their politicians to listen, and stop defenceless animals suffering pain and death for the sake of a new lip stick or shampoo.

"So come on Brazil, show the world you'll be next to end cosmetics animal testing, let's #BeCrueltyFree!"

The call for a boycott comes weeks after a bill was introduced that promises to ban animal testing for finished cosmetic products.

A spokesman for the Humane Society International tells WENN, "This is a very limited ban because the majority of animal testing of cosmetics is performed on ingredients. Almost no animal testing is done on finished products. Therefore, to meet Kesha's challenge, the bill must be amended to ban animal testing of ingredients as well.

"HSI is campaigning in Brazil and worldwide for test bans without compromise. Together with supermodel Fernanda Tavares, and now global singing sensation Kesha, HSI is urging the Senate to amend Brazil's weak bill to prevent countless animals continuing to suffer and die in cruel cosmetics tests."

Opinion polls show that two thirds of Brazilians support a nationwide ban on animal testing of cosmetics and their ingredients. In 2014, the state of Sao Paulo introduced a total ban on such testing, mirroring bans already in place across the 28 countries of the European Union, as well as Israel and India.