Simon Says "No" to Fur


This year’s crop of American Idol contestants have something new to worry about when facing Simon Cowell …what they’re wearing. Fame-seekers are well advised not to show up draped in animal pelts because Simon has just become PETA’s latest voice in the war against fur.

Notorious for being tough on superstar hopefuls and, at times, downright mean, it seems that Simon is really just a softie … at least when it comes to animals. Simon appears with canine pal in tow in PETA’s “If you wouldn’t wear your dog, please don’t wear any fur” ad.

Simon wants consumers to know that millions of animals are tortured and killed in hideous ways before they’re turned into coats, cuffs, collars, purses, earmuffs, scarves, shrugs, capes, and boots. Animals raised for their fur are beaten to death, drowned, electrocuted, strangled, or gassed, and those caught in steel-jaw leghold traps may languish in pain for hours, sometimes days, before succumbing to their injuries if the trappers don’t get to them first. Many even chew their own paws off in an attempt to escape the excruciating pain.

With alternatives to fur available everywhere, there’s just no excuse for anyone to wear animals as decoration or for warmth. Even leading retailers like Forever 21 are ditching fur forever.