(AllHipHop News) Hip-Hop mogul Russell Simmons has been named person of the year by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). PETA selected Simmons to due his well known vegan lifestyle, in addition to the Def Jam founder’s activism championing animal rights. “The horrible abuse of animals is the worst karmic disaster in the history of human kind,” Simmons said of his award. “The work that PETA does to combat this catastrophe is amazing.” Simmons, who has been a vegan for over ten years now and was also recently selected by PETA to receive his own postage stamp, accepted his award on behalf of animal rights activists nationwide. “I’m truly humbled to be chosen as this year’s Person of the Year but the praise should go to the hundreds of thousands of volunteers that are on the ground doing the work. I accept this honor on their behalf.”