'Sexy chicken' causes Twitter flap

The controversial photo in question. Photo / New York Times

It started out as a simple means to illustrate a story about cooking chicken skin.

But following outrage from animal rights activists in America, the image of a seductively posed plucked chicken is now a quick-rising internet sensation with its own Twitter feed.

The piece, from the New York Times 'Dining and wine' section last week, looked at whether chicken skin was making a comeback on restaurant menus.

The paper chose to illustrate their piece with a plucked chicken - still with skin - which seemed to be lounging back in a 'naked' pose.

Chef Sean Brock - one of those who shared his favourite chicken skin recipe - commented: "Everyone knows deep down that they are closet chicken-skin lovers," he said. "They just need some help."

PETA- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - disagreed.

The organisation's president Ingrid Newkirk told The Atlantic Wire: "It's downright offensive, not just to people who care about animals but almost to everyone. It's a plucked, beheaded, young chicken in a young pose," she said.

The animal rights group itself is no stranger to controversy and counts among its PR offensives the high profile 'I'd rather go naked than wear fur' campaign.

And in the end, the outrage from PETA has hardly managed to cull the controversy.

Instead it has people flocking to the new 'Sexy Chicken' Twitter account, set up to mock the critics.

The bird, questioning what all the flap is about, tweets:

"Why all the hate from @PETA? Don't they know I'm vegetarian?"

- Herald Online staff