PETA’s Special Projects Manager, Michelle Cho, sent a letter to Indiana Pacers President and NBA Hall of Famer Larry Bird asking him to deny future sponsorship requests from fast food giant McDonald’s, “for the birds.”

Bird appeared in the McDonald’s Super Bowl ad that featured NBA superstars LeBron James and Dwight Howard playing a game of horse for a Big Mac. The commercial is a remake of the series of spots “Larry Legend” filmed with fellow NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan in the early 90’s.

In a press release PETA attempts to use Bird’s injured back to bridge a comparison to the suffering of chickens.

"With the nagging back problems that plagued him throughout his career, Bird is the first person who should sympathize with the millions of chickens who are killed for McDonald's--chickens whose wings, legs, and backs are routinely broken," says PETA Director Dan Shannon, a lifetime Celtics fan. "Larry had one of the best shooting strokes in NBA history, but when it comes to choosing which companies he partners with, he's miles off the mark."

The letter itself details the inhumane slaughter of chickens that McDonald’s utilizes in items that appear on its menu.

Larry Bird has not responded to PETA’s request.

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