PETA Protests Mary-Kate & Ashley "Trollsen"

Thu., Nov. 13, 2008 12:53 PM PST by Gina Serpe

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

The fur was flying—albeit peacefully—at the Olsen twins' Los Angeles book signing last night.

On hand to promote and sign copies of their new photo-driven coffee-table tome Influence, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were met not only by a flock of their style-conscious fans but by a mob of PETA protesters.

"The Olsen twins support an industry that forces animals to live in tiny wire cages their entire lives and electrocutes and kills them for vanity," PETA rep Ashley Byrne told E! News.

The animal-rights activists' beef, as it were, is not only due to the Olsens' frequent donning of fur and animal skins, but their use of both materials in their higher-end clothing line, the Row.

Eschewing their traditional headline-grabbing tactic of hurling red paint on the offending billionaire moguls, PETA, which has been campaigning against the so-dubbed "Trollsen Twins" since 2007, resorted instead to more calm, but equally disruptive, tactics.

At last night's event, PETA supporters wore doctored Olsen masks and held signs reading "Trollsens: Fur Hags From Hell" and "Hairy-Kate and Trashley Olsen: Fur Tramps."

The 22-year-olds, who did not immediately comment on Wednesday's protest, have long been easy targets for the animal-rights campaigners.

PETA previously launched an entire website dedicated to condemning the fashion plates' decision to use animal materials in their personal and professional lives. A video section on the site, dubbed "Full House of Horrors," also features edited video clips of the girls in their Michelle Tanner heyday interspersed with graphic footage of animal cruelty.

PETA has also launched a billboard ad campaign against the dynamic duo, featuring the twins' visages along with the tag line, "Fur is worn by beautiful animals and ugly people."

A rep for the Olsens has yet to comment on the incident.

—Additional reporting by Ashley Fultz