Lady Gaga Issues Letter Addressing Her Fur Use & Calls Kim Kardashian Fabulous

Robbie Daw | August 16, 2012 12:49 pm

Whether she likes it or not (she does), fashion plate Lady Gaga makes a statement with whatever outlandish get-up she steps onto the street wearing. And given her recent penchant for donning fur, both in public in Bulgaria earlier this week and in a poster for upcoming film Machete Kills, Mother Monster has been feeling she has some explaining to do — especially given PETA’s open letter to Gaga that reminds her that she once told Ellen DeGeneres “I hate fur and I don’t wear fur,” and likens her to “a target just like the mindless Kim Kardashian.” Yee-owch!

First, PETA’s Jeff Mackey wrote the following on the organization’s site on Monday:

Dear Gaga,

Many of your gay fans, I among them, have long admired what you told Ellen: “I hate fur and I don’t wear fur.” I included a link because these recent photos of you in fox and rabbit and with a wolf carcass make it appear that you have amnesia.

I’m also including this brief videohosted by Tim Gunn showing the violent cruelty that you promote when you wear fur. What happened? Are your stylists telling you that it’s fake, or are you a turncoat?

Many gays are animal advocates because we recognize that the same arrogance and indifference that some have toward animal suffering has at times been directed toward us personally because of our orientation. PETA has long participated in Pride events around the country, and just last week, we helped lead protests against Chick-fil-A. But by wearing those dumb furs in a heat wave, you’re making yourself a target just like the mindless Kim Kardashian. As we plan our fall campaigns, please tell us whether what you gracefully told Ellen was heartfelt or just a pose.

At first Lady Gaga’s response was to issue a short statement on her social networking site LittleMonsters.com that read, “For all the press and such that are writing about whether or not my fur is actually real, please don’t forget to credit the designer HERMES. Thank you, LOVE gaga.”

A sampling of her fans’ resulting comments reads as follows:

* “If this is the new era Gaga, I don’t like it.”

* “I would try to find the funny side if I didn’t think the fur industry was a disgusting [trade]…”

* “How could you? That’s so messed up, I though you stood up for better values than fashion at the cost of animal suffering.”

She then offered up this lengthier statement titled “FURGATE PART 1”:

“To the fans. i want you to know that I care deeply about your feelings and views, and I will always support your philosophies about life. We’ve been having over-arching conversations about society, equality, and politics for the past five years, and we should continue. I do not however support violent, abusive, and childish campaigns for ANY CAUSE. Particularly one that I respect. ‘Animal Rights.’ I am choosing not to comment on whether or not the furs I purchase are faux fur-pile or real because I would think it hypercritical not to acknowledge the python, ostrich, cow hide, leather, lamb, alligator, ‘kermit’ and not to mention meat, that I have already worn. This should already put me in a category as one who appreciates and adores the beauty of animals in fashion, but am not a strict vegan. I have truly always stayed away from skinned fur, especially i have never been able to afford a nice one, but this does not mean my morals are rigid and that I won’t bend at the sight of an absolute art piece of a coat. I have no chains about this. You see a carcass, I see a museum pièce de résistance. But I am truly sorry to fans who are upset by this, its a fair and applaudable feeling about the health and safety of animals. I respect your views, please respect mine. And to the campaigners, please save your flour to make bread for the children who are hungry. And Kim Kardashian is fabulous.”

So there you have it, monsters. Do you buy Lady Gaga’s reasoning with regard to what she’s calling Furgate? Do you find her to be hypocritical? Let us know below, or by hitting us up on Facebook and Twitter!