Ashley Judd's topless photo used to mock her in pro-coal mining poster

Washington, July 10 (ANI): Actress Ashley Judd's topless photo has been used on a poster to mock her outspoken opposition to mountaintop removal mining.

The 5-foot by 3-foot poster, which was on display at a coal industry-sponsored golf tournament in Kentucky, had "Ashley Judd makes a living removing her top, why can't coal miners?" written in bold, black letters on it, Fox News reported.

Judd, 42, who is seen covering her breasts with her hands in the photo, had in a speech last month said mountaintop removal, which blasts the tops off mountains to extract coal, is the "rape of Appalachia".

The actress said in a statement that she anticipated criticism from "cunning and greedy" coal companies when speaking out against mountaintop mining.

Two coal industry groups sponsored the tournament, Friends of Coal and the Pikeville-based Coal Operators and Associates.

Its president, David Gooch, said he does not know who created the sign, but that many Appalachians are angry over Judd's criticisms because they see it as an attack on their livelihoods and culture. (ANI)