PETA Slams Former Sexiest Vegetarian Nominee Reese Witherspoon For Python Skin Purse
Nov. 1 2011, Published 12:30 p.m. ET
Reese Witherspoon's latest fashion statement has caused ripples of disgust among animal lovers and has outraged PETA, RadarOnline.com can report.
"No matter how much Reese paid for that bag, the animals paid a much higher price," Nicole Dao, Media Liaison for the PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) told RadarOnline.com.
As RadarOnline.com previously reported, the Water For Elephants star has been spotted several times in Los Angeles carrying a Chloe Paraty python and leather purse, which she clearly didn’t buy in California because the popular snakeskin has been banned from sales there since 1970.
"We can't imagine that she'd wish to contribute to this hidden suffering, especially for something as frivolous as a fashion accessory that can be replicated with no bloodshed," said Dao, who went on to explain the grotesque manner in which pythons are impaled on trees and skinned alive for their sought-after scales.
This is not the first time America's sweetheart has upset the animal rights organization.
PETA nominated Reese for the title of 'World's Sexiest Vegetarian' in 2005, she ultimately lost out to Carrie Underwood and Chris Martin, which was a good thing as just a year later the actress went on the Ellen DeGeneres show and gushed about how "everything tastes better with bacon," reported the Guardian.co.uk.
Witherspoon's Walk The Line star Joaquin Phoenix certainly won't approve of her latest $3,820 purchase. The actor recently narrated an undercover video for PETA campaigning against the exotic skins industry.
"Exotic animals are mostly unknown to us and so is what they suffer before being turned into belts and bags," the Golden Globe winning actor revealed in a heartfelt video message on PETA.org.
"Every year millions of reptiles are slaughtered so that handbags, belts and shoes can be made from their skin," said Phoenix. "The animals' welfare is not a concern to those who hunt, poach and slaughter them."
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Joaquin called out the major fashion houses, such as Christian Louboutin and Jimmy Choo, to choose compassion over cruelty by eliminating exotic-skins from their collections and using cruelty-free alternatives like Nike and H&M do.
"These days, it's easy to have a look that kills without killing - with fake snake, mock croc, python pleather, and other designer items that pay tribute to the beauty of these animals without massacring them," Dao told RadarOnline.com.
According to the California Penal Code Section 653o it is unlawful to import python into California for commercial purposes, to posses with intent to sell, or sell within the state, however, it is not illegal to purchase python in another state and carry it over.
You can watch Joaquin’s horrifying video expose here on RadarOnline.com — Be warned though, it is NOT for the faint-hearted.
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