full size Lea Michele Smiles at the NYLON Magazine September Issue Dinner in Beverly Hills on September 15, 2012
Credit: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for NYLON Magazine

Is Glee star Lea Michele’s (Rachel) new high-profile job in conflict with her animal-rights beliefs?

This appears to be the view of some animal activists, who are upset that Lea is now a spokesperson for L’Oreal, according to One Green Planet. L’Oreal used to be considered a cruelty-free company, but it lost this designation in order to sell products in China, where the laws require products to have been tested on animals.

Lea, a longtime vegetarian, has been very vocal about animal-rights issues in the past. She has appeared in a public service announcement for PETA, and she even wrote a letter to New York City’s mayor to protest the carriage horse industry after a horse died in the NYC streets last year.

Celebrities such as British comedian Ricky Gervais have taken a stand about companies testing on animals in order to compete in the Chinese market. “Ethical principles shouldn’t be up for sale,” Ricky has said. “You don’t have to sell your soul in order to be a globally successful cosmetics brand.”

L’Oreal is certainly not the only cosmetic giant to use animal testing, but Paul Mitchell is one that is still cruelty-free. “We do not conduct or condone animal testing on our products, and we will not attempt to market our products in China until alternatives to animal testing methods have been accepted by the government,” says John Paul DeJoria, CEO of Paul Mitchell.

We’d hate to hear what animal activists would say if they knew about Lord Tubbington’s ecstasy addiction.

Sources: One Green Planet, Care2

Can’t get enough Gleetastic goodness? Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!