- Jul 13, 2005
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I think that after Weir gave his explanation that the animal rights people should have taken a step back and said -- Ya know what this guy has a point!!
Yet these are the same people who would put their animals comfort over the comfort of their own children...how sad!!
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=ap-weir-fur&prov=ap&type=lgns
CHICAGO (AP)Friends of Animals posted an open letter to U.S. figure skater Johnny Weir criticizing him for having fox fur on one of his costumes and asking him to stop wearing fur.
The animal advocacy group also contacted his costume designer, Stephanie Handler, on Tuesday.
I totally get the dirtiness of the fur industry and how terrible it is to animals. But its not something thats the No. 1 priority in my life, Weir said on Tuesday. There are humans dying everyday. There are thousands if not millions of homeless people in New York City. Look at what just happened in Haiti.
I tend to focus my energy, if there is a cause, on humans. While that may be callous and bad of me, its my choice.
Weir loves fashion, and his costumes tend to be on the avant-gardesome would say extremeside. When the three-time U.S. champion redesigned his free skate costume before the U.S. champions, he had Handler add a tuft of white fox fur to the left shoulder.
Weir said he thought the costume was lovely, but Friends of Animals disagreed. Foxes are electrocuted or beaten, and their pelts are obtained by skinning the animals alive, said Anai Rhoads, spokeswoman for the group.
Hes a role model for a lot of people, including other skaters, said Priscilla Feral, president of Friends of Animals. When he makes fun of the suffering of animals that are consumed for this frivolous fashion industry and whose lives are sacrificed so he can wear little tufts of fur on his outfit, thats fair game for comment.
Weir finished third at the U.S. champs, qualifying for his second Olympic team.
Friends of Animals was not the first group to target Weir. He said hes gotten letters from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and people have sent him videos depicting how animals are treated by the fur industry.
But Weir said this was the first time someone has contacted Handler.
She did what I asked her to. It wasnt her choice to make me a costume with fur, Weir said. At least directly come to me and yell at me. Dont attack my peeps.
Weir said he understands the groups objections, but he doesnt share their point of view.
Besides, hes not the only skater wearing animal skin products.
Every skater is wearing skates made out of cow, Weir said. Maybe Im wearing a cute little fox while everyone else is wearing cow, but were all still wearing animals.
Yet these are the same people who would put their animals comfort over the comfort of their own children...how sad!!
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=ap-weir-fur&prov=ap&type=lgns
CHICAGO (AP)Friends of Animals posted an open letter to U.S. figure skater Johnny Weir criticizing him for having fox fur on one of his costumes and asking him to stop wearing fur.
The animal advocacy group also contacted his costume designer, Stephanie Handler, on Tuesday.
I totally get the dirtiness of the fur industry and how terrible it is to animals. But its not something thats the No. 1 priority in my life, Weir said on Tuesday. There are humans dying everyday. There are thousands if not millions of homeless people in New York City. Look at what just happened in Haiti.
I tend to focus my energy, if there is a cause, on humans. While that may be callous and bad of me, its my choice.
Weir loves fashion, and his costumes tend to be on the avant-gardesome would say extremeside. When the three-time U.S. champion redesigned his free skate costume before the U.S. champions, he had Handler add a tuft of white fox fur to the left shoulder.
Weir said he thought the costume was lovely, but Friends of Animals disagreed. Foxes are electrocuted or beaten, and their pelts are obtained by skinning the animals alive, said Anai Rhoads, spokeswoman for the group.
Hes a role model for a lot of people, including other skaters, said Priscilla Feral, president of Friends of Animals. When he makes fun of the suffering of animals that are consumed for this frivolous fashion industry and whose lives are sacrificed so he can wear little tufts of fur on his outfit, thats fair game for comment.
Weir finished third at the U.S. champs, qualifying for his second Olympic team.
Friends of Animals was not the first group to target Weir. He said hes gotten letters from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and people have sent him videos depicting how animals are treated by the fur industry.
But Weir said this was the first time someone has contacted Handler.
She did what I asked her to. It wasnt her choice to make me a costume with fur, Weir said. At least directly come to me and yell at me. Dont attack my peeps.
Weir said he understands the groups objections, but he doesnt share their point of view.
Besides, hes not the only skater wearing animal skin products.
Every skater is wearing skates made out of cow, Weir said. Maybe Im wearing a cute little fox while everyone else is wearing cow, but were all still wearing animals.
