Archive for the ‘PETA’ Category

PETA compared reality star Kim Kardashian to Cruella De Vil after the better-looking half of Kimye was seen strolling through the streets of Paris, France wearing chic python boots this Tuesday.

According to Gossip Cop, the animal rights advocacy group released a statement vilifying Kardashian for her thigh-high Christian Louboutin python boots.

“They’d go well with a Dalmatian-fur coat,” PETA spokesperson Wendy Wegner said of the python boots Kim Kardashian donned in a statement sent to Gossip Cop, ”Which is also illegal to sell in California and immoral to sell anywhere else.”

(Of course, Dalmatians don’t grow up to 20 feet in length. And Pogo certainly doesn’t feed on anything that moves up to, and including, alligators in the Florida Everglades.) Said boots were made out of python skin obtained by hunters. A pair designed by Christian Louboutin costs thousands of dollars.

Gossip Cop reported that PETA and Kim Kardashian have previously clashed before over the latter’s fashion choices. That infamous “flour bombing” of Kardashian this March? PETA supported the culprit who initiated the attack. And when Kardashian’s new boyfriend, Kanye West, called PETA (and Kim’s estranged husband Kris Humphries) out in his song ‘Theraflu,’ PETA called West “a man with no empathy for animals or human beings.”

Animal-rights advocacy group PETA claims it has obtained newly-leaked memos that allegedly prove the horses used in the cancelled HBO horse-racing drama ‘Luck’ were abused by their handlers. E! News exclusively reported that PETA filed a new complaint last week with the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office. The complaint included internal documents provided by a whistle-blower with access to the American Humane Association.

The first (and only) season of ‘Luck’ reportedly invited an AHA representative on set to oversee the treatment of the horses. The resulting memos outline allegations against the HBO production and its trainer, Matt Chew.

The AHA reportedly found that the horses in ‘Luck‘ were underfed; that sick horses were utilized in filming; and that horses were regularly tranquilized to keep them quiet. The report also alleges that badly trained or unprepared horses were used in racing sequences.

PETA adds that the AHA intel also accuses ‘Luck’ trainer Matt Chew of deceiving AHA representatives. Chew allegedly gave false names to horses to cover up the fact that the animals were unfit to race. In addition, sick mounts supposedly disappeared from the HBO show’s set. These antics supposedly prompted the AHA to warn trainer Chew that he could be charged with neglect.

According to PETA, the documents pointed potential violations of not only AHA guidelines but also state anti-cruelty laws. The animal-rights advocacy group is demanding that the D.A. investigate the production.

The PETA reveal comes snapping on the heels of news that HBO parent company Time Warner took a whopping $35 million hit when it cancelled the Dustin Hoffman–led vehicle.

That decision was made in March not long after HBO renewed ‘Luck’ for a second season. A horse reportedly had to be euthanized, and two other steeds died earlier due to injuries sustained on set.

PETA senior vice president Lisa Lange released a statement saying, ”These documents appear to reveal what ‘Luck’ executive producers David Milch and Michael Mann have repeatedly denied: that horses were mistreated and endangered on a daily basis.”

According to PETA, the AHA officers who supervised the set asked ‘Luck’ executives to recommend to producers that Chew be fired. But AHA did not know if executives did as they suggested, or if the proper authorities were warned the animals’ allegedly dangerous environment.

HBO issued a counter-statement to E! News. “The safety and welfare of the horses was always of paramount concern,” an HBO representative said. “While we maintained the highest safety standards possible, working closely with American Humane Association to review and improve protocols on an ongoing basis, it was impossible to guarantee no further accidents would occur. Accordingly, we reached the difficult decision to cease production.”

No representative for the AHA’s L.A. branch was on hand to comment. But a spokesman in the AHA’s Washington office informed the The Washington Post that the organization could not comment on specifics until it has seen PETA’s complaint.

In turn, PETA rep Wendy Wegner tells E! News that, ”in order to protect the whistleblower and give law enforcement the opportunity to properly investigate the case,” the animal rights group will not release a copy of their complaint nor of the supporting documents.

D.A. spokeswoman Jane Robison tells E! News that they are unable to confirm as of press time if they are already looking into the matter. She noted that prosecutors usually waited for a probe by a governmental regulator.

“We don’t take the lead,” Robison says of the complaint PETA filed against HBO and its ‘Luck’ production. “If there’s already somebody looking into it, we would wait.”