Vegan rapper and all- round media mogul Russell Simmons has been voted the Person of the Year 2011 by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).
According to PETA, Simmons is the most humane celebrity in America and replaces former president Bill Clinton in that role.
On Thursday, PETA announced the news explaining why Simmons had been chosen. The bosses talked about how the yogic concept of ahimsa or non-violence inspired the Def Jam co-founder to say no to meat, and how since then Simmons has – through his work in TV, music and fashion and with a net worth of over $300 million – promoted peace and respect for all forms of life on the planet.
Simmons said that while he was humbled by the honor, he believed that the true praise should go to the volunteers who work at grass roots levels.
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