Beyonce Knowles has been slammed by anti-smoking groups in Australia for appearing in an ad for her world tour posing with an old-fashioned cigarette holder.

Australian organisation Quit recently sent letters to the country's government seeking the ad's removal from billboards and newspapers.

Action on Smoking and Health director JOHN BANZHAF also slams the star, telling American publication Us Weekly, "The objection is to the association of glamour and sexiness with smoking.

"I hope Beyonce realises it's wrong and condemns it."

Meanwhile, the RING THE ALARM singer is also under fire from animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) because of another publicity shot that shows her alongside live alligators.

A PETA spokesperson adds, "Beyonce is so beautiful that she doesn't need to drag terrified alligators into a picture to get attention."