I recently discovered that one of PETA'S celebrity endorsers, Dita Von Teese, has her own fur line and is quite open about it. If fact PETA, apparently has no problem working with Dita even though she wears and sells fur. Am I the only one who thinks this is upsetting?
Click ahead for the full story and my thoughts on PETA'S contradiction...
Lets define, shall we...
Contradiction (noun)-variance to something
PETA- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Fur- Not an ethical treatment of animals.
Don't celebrities and organizations value the quality of authenticity anymore? Authenticity is pretty simple: If you talk the talk, walk the walk.
Pro-Animal Rights
Like most vegans, I am an animal lover. In fact, my first inspiration towards veganism was out of my childhood love of animals. And I support people and organizations who promote animal rights. But sometimes PETA confuses the heck out of me.
The Scoop
Numerous news outlets reported that Dita Von Teese was spotted having a vegan lunch at Real Food Daily in Santa Monica California. One of my favorite restaurants in the country might I add.
This brought up a huge history of Dita's work with vegan animal rights company PETA. And the background story is quite questionable. It begs the question: Is PETA being a hypocrite?
PETA and Von Teese
The Vegetarian Star reported this:
"Von Teese worked with PETA in a campaign to encourage pet owners to spay and neuter their animals and was also set to star in a Beauty Without Cruelty campaign in cooperation with Chanel, to show how animal cruelty was unnecessary in the cosmetic industry.
But she has a collection of vintage furs she’s not ashamed to discuss.
“PETA’s totally aware of me,” she once told PEOPLE. “I’m not working with PETA to tell people to be vegetarians or to stop wearing fur. I am there to strictly speak about spaying and neutering your pets.”
PETA had responded by saying, “She said she has some vintage furs she wears occasionally. PETA often works with a celebrity on an issue they feel comfortable supporting, whether it’s supporting spaying and neutering, or speaking out against products that are tested on animals. So they may not be an animal rights activist, but their contribution to any of our campaigns is appreciated.”
I am against fur, but I certainly wouldn't take away Dita Von Teese's right to wear or sell fur. I can only do my best and snarl at all the fur coat wearers this time of year in New York City.
Dita is her own person, and is open about her fur-accepting stance.
However, PETA runs across runway stages splattering red paint on fur wearing models. So how in the world can they dare work with someone who sells and wears fur???
Confusing and upsetting.
I wish PETA would not choose its celebrities based on popularity, but rather on cold hard facts about what they represent. So many celebrities and everyday people say they represent one thing and actually LIVE something totally different. I would like to see more authenticity in PETA'S celebrity endorsers. Anyone can pose naked for a PETA ad and make the news. But if at the end of the day you are eating a hamburger while draped in a mink fur coat, I say you are nothing more that a fake. And if PETA was too blind to see that, then they are just as bad.
Authenticity is a pretty simple concept: If you talk the talk, walk the walk.
G B says
PETA is a dumpster fire.
Farah says
I fuckin hate peta, its simply full of lies, their message is strong and lovely but theyre only busy investigating fur farms and bashing on fur manufacturers when THEY dont even practise animals rights within their organisation. Peta kills healthy animals with an excuse of theyre not wanted. And they have animals that suffer from diseases with no freakin care but keep them alive and kill healthy animals instead where the fuck is the humanity here? Your supporting bunch of liers. And i was wondering about what u wrote, that u cant take away Dita's rights of wearing fur but as for people u see in public u would snarl at them. Why? Dont these people have the rights to wear fur as Dita? Is this what your saying? Dont buy furs, leather goods, eat animals.. Practise this alone, no need to harrass anyone, its humane and lovely, but you'll never change people's mind, bcs its a choice, it was your choice to support animals out of love. And its people choice not to or one day they might choose to. U dont know
Guest says
Then you are not really a vegan. Nothing will take away the torture those "vintage" animals went through. The fact that you like it is where the problem lies. There is no nice way of murdering an animal. Comments like yours are what makes people today not understand and not want to know the reality. You know the reality but because it done a long time ago it was OK.....sad
Guest says
So those of you who are against leather and fur think it's OK to wear it if it's second hand and vintage, so in short you are saying it doesn't matter if the animals were skinned alive 50 yrs ago as long as it wasn't last week? Mmm Am I the only one who doesn't understand this? The fact that you "like it" is actually disturbing. Just because a long time ago there wasn't awareness on the brutality of it all doesn't make the older vintage one OK now because you.... ARE AWARE of how it was made. If you wear it you are still promoting fur. You would therefore be a hypocrite. This is why the world doesn't really feel the pain. Because whilst there are people out there willing to judge others but make excuses for themselves we will never get anywhere. I did like Dita Von Teese and hadn't even thought of the fur until all this awareness came about the torture of cats and dogs. So even if you buy it second hand, just know this YOU HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING IF WHAT YOU ARE WEARING IS IN FACT A DOG. China is the largest leather exporter in the world and they export under FALSE labels and it is so extended that you have an 80% chance that your house is full of someone's stolen pet including the second hand jacket. Even if it isn't a Dog, then you are still guaranteed it's from a Cow or Pig that has been tortured. So however you look at it, it doesn't matter how old it is, in memory of those innocent animals who did not surrender their fur and their lives willingly I urge you to please reconsider and get rid of your second hand or vintage items IF you are in fact against it. Obviously if you are OK with it then no urging on my behalf will make any difference. The same goes for Wool and Angora. At the end of the day there is nothing wrong with wool if sheared off in summer and carefully but the demand for all these commodities is so extensive that to meet those demands time is money and there is no time to be nice or caring. Australia is one of the largest wool exporters. Their workers are so mentally unstable that they punch and kick innocent sheep, cut them open with shears, sew them back up without anaesthetic or just plain break their legs and necks for the fun of it. This happens with ALL livestock everywhere. So you see, at the end of the day the secret to ending all the cruelty is the DEMAND. So whilst you think it's OK to wear old or second hand or vintage you are creating a trend which creates a demand. TAKE AWAY THE DEMAND AND IT WILL END, at least the industrial cruelty. Then we can concentrate on the evil average person in our neighbourhoods to add to this cruelty.
Tony says
I find it really strange that PETA, who goes out of their way to paint bomb fur wearers, made this excuse for Dita.
The real truth?
She probably gave an exorbitant amount of money to PETA. Dita was smart to calm them with cash before their bombed her in public.
Steff says
If you're gonna right an article- get your facts straight: Dita wears vintage furs, she does not sell fur! And of course PETA are hypocrites- that's nothing new
Anonymous says
This is my spin on it: I'm a vegan who doesn't mind vintage furs as long as current furriers don't copy their designs. Vintage furs come from an era where awareness of animal sensitivity didn't exist. Nowadays to support leather and fur production seems ostentatious and unnecessarily self-indulgent. And horrifying. I wear secondhand leather and fur as I don't feel that I am buying into the current industry.
Anonymous says
This is my spin on it: I'm a vegan who doesn't mind vintage furs as long as current furriers don't copy their designs. Vintage furs come from an era where awareness of animal sensitivity didn't exist. Nowadays to support leather and fur production seems ostentatious and unnecessarily self-indulgent. And horrifying. I wear secondhand leather and fur as I don't feel that I am buying into the current industry.
Anonymous says
This is my spin on it: I'm a vegan who doesn't mind vintage furs as long as current furriers don't copy their designs. Vintage furs come from an era where awareness of animal sensitivity didn't exist. Nowadays to support leather and fur production seems ostentatious and unnecessarily self-indulgent. And horrifying. I wear secondhand leather and fur as I don't feel that I am buying into the current industry.
Anonymous says
I think DITA represents a lot of people in society who are conflicted on issues. I know people who love animals and hate animal cruelty, but in the name of fashion sometimes a fur coat makes it on their back. I don't know what I agree with, but people are so complex and sometimes its hard to be 100% about something.
Like...I love the earth, but I don't always recycle.
Anonymous says
I think DITA represents a lot of people in society who are conflicted on issues. I know people who love animals and hate animal cruelty, but in the name of fashion sometimes a fur coat makes it on their back. I don't know what I agree with, but people are so complex and sometimes its hard to be 100% about something.Like...I love the earth, but I don't always recycle.
Anonymous says
I think DITA represents a lot of people in society who are conflicted on issues. I know people who love animals and hate animal cruelty, but in the name of fashion sometimes a fur coat makes it on their back. I don't know what I agree with, but people are so complex and sometimes its hard to be 100% about something.
Like...I love the earth, but I don't always recycle.
Kathy says
Asha tara,
You make an excellent point.
I agree that when a non-vegan supports animal rights or another 'vegan' cause, it is a good thing. But in this case I think we can both agree that PETA has not made the wisest decision.
I also agree with your point that PETA really gets a lot of BAD press from some of the less-that-smart choices they make. If PETA ever wants to be taken seriously about the incredibly worthy cause that they represent, they need to cool their heels and take a step back and stop making really bad PR decisions.
Thanks for the great comment,
Kathy
Kathy says
Asha tara,You make an excellent point.I agree that when a non-vegan supports animal rights or another 'vegan' cause, it is a good thing. But in this case I think we can both agree that PETA has not made the wisest decision.I also agree with your point that PETA really gets a lot of BAD press from some of the less-that-smart choices they make. If PETA ever wants to be taken seriously about the incredibly worthy cause that they represent, they need to cool their heels and take a step back and stop making really bad PR decisions.Thanks for the great comment,Kathy
Kathy says
Asha tara,
You make an excellent point.
I agree that when a non-vegan supports animal rights or another 'vegan' cause, it is a good thing. But in this case I think we can both agree that PETA has not made the wisest decision.
I also agree with your point that PETA really gets a lot of BAD press from some of the less-that-smart choices they make. If PETA ever wants to be taken seriously about the incredibly worthy cause that they represent, they need to cool their heels and take a step back and stop making really bad PR decisions.
Thanks for the great comment,
Kathy
Asha Tara (veggiegirl.org) says
I think it's totally cool when omnivores support animal rights and welfare.
Just because you choose to eat meat, doesn't mean you have to support ridiculous amounts of cruelty and the inhumane treatment of animals.
In other words, I don't think PETA should require an all-or-nothing commitment from celebrities who want to help.
It makes sense that people who eat meat but support PETA would want better conditions for factory farm animals, because after all -unhealthy animals = unhealthy food.
But for the life of me, I cannot understand how a PETA spokesperson can not only *wear* fur, but also actively SELL and support the industry.
This just crosses the line of contradiction, completely. It's ridiculous to have a spokesperson argue for the welfare of cats and dogs and yet skin foxes alive for the sake of her fashion line.
What is the most disappointing of all, is that PETA does great things and yet because of crap like this so many people dismiss the organization.
It's not as if PETA isn't already looked at with a ridiculous amount of scrutiny. Do they really need more ammunition for the pro-cruelty people?
Asha Tara (veggiegirl.org) says
I think it's totally cool when omnivores support animal rights and welfare. Just because you choose to eat meat, doesn't mean you have to support ridiculous amounts of cruelty and the inhumane treatment of animals. In other words, I don't think PETA should require an all-or-nothing commitment from celebrities who want to help.It makes sense that people who eat meat but support PETA would want better conditions for factory farm animals, because after all -unhealthy animals = unhealthy food. But for the life of me, I cannot understand how a PETA spokesperson can not only *wear* fur, but also actively SELL and support the industry. This just crosses the line of contradiction, completely. It's ridiculous to have a spokesperson argue for the welfare of cats and dogs and yet skin foxes alive for the sake of her fashion line. What is the most disappointing of all, is that PETA does great things and yet because of crap like this so many people dismiss the organization. It's not as if PETA isn't already looked at with a ridiculous amount of scrutiny. Do they really need more ammunition for the pro-cruelty people?
Asha Tara (veggiegirl.org) says
I think it's totally cool when omnivores support animal rights and welfare.
Just because you choose to eat meat, doesn't mean you have to support ridiculous amounts of cruelty and the inhumane treatment of animals.
In other words, I don't think PETA should require an all-or-nothing commitment from celebrities who want to help.
It makes sense that people who eat meat but support PETA would want better conditions for factory farm animals, because after all -unhealthy animals = unhealthy food.
But for the life of me, I cannot understand how a PETA spokesperson can not only *wear* fur, but also actively SELL and support the industry.
This just crosses the line of contradiction, completely. It's ridiculous to have a spokesperson argue for the welfare of cats and dogs and yet skin foxes alive for the sake of her fashion line.
What is the most disappointing of all, is that PETA does great things and yet because of crap like this so many people dismiss the organization.
It's not as if PETA isn't already looked at with a ridiculous amount of scrutiny. Do they really need more ammunition for the pro-cruelty people?