An Open Letter to Cruella De Ville AKA Sherri Shepherd
Published on November 13, 2009 by chloejo · 47 CommentsGuest Blogging Glamazon Ari Solomon sends a strong message out to cold hearted Sherri Shepherd letting her know NO true glamorous beauty would be caught dead in the tortured skins of baby animals;
To the producers and stars of The View:
I was appalled and disgusted to see you glorifying and joking about fur on your show Tuesday morning. For over 20 years, animal activists and celebrities from Martha Stewart to Christina Applegate to The Golden Girls have been speaking out and educating the public about the heinous cruelty involved in fur production.
Sherri Shepherd thinks killing animals for a coat is funny.
Since you obviously missed all those lessons, let me enlighten you:
It takes 40 minks to make one fur coat like the one Ms. Shepherd wore on the show. These animals are kept in cages so small they literally go insane from running around in circles. Animals that are caught in the wild have their limbs clamped shut in iron traps. They are sometimes left for days bleeding, freezing and starving, often trying to chew off their own limbs, desperately trying to escape. When “fur animals” are slaughtered, they are killed by being vaginally or anally electrocuted. On some farms their heads are simply slammed against concrete floors. All this barbarity is so that their fur doesn’t get damaged. Sometimes it takes two or three electrocutions/head slammings before the animal dies. Even then, some survive and are skinned alive. Isn’t that luxurious, something to laugh about?
THIS is what a mink looks like.
If you can’t find it in your icy hearts to feel for minks then imagine 40 Chihuahuas in that situation. Now ask yourself: what is the difference between a cute little dog and a mink with regard to suffering? That’s right, NOTHING.
Anyone with a heart can see the suffering expressed by this fox in a typical fur trap.
Shame on you ladies! For sitting behind that panel mindlessly ooohing and ahhhing over the tortured bodies of 40 animals. Your opinions reach millions, and yet there was not one person present to argue the other side — to speak on behalf of the animals who sadly cannot speak for themselves (though I think the tormented shrieks and screams from inside the fur farms speak plenty).
I understand that Ms. Shepherd bought her fur at a charity event, but what kind of charity was shown to the slain animals? If Ms. Shepherd felt compelled to donate money, she could’ve easily done that without walking away with a coat made of cruelty.
Ms. Goldberg embarrassed herself completely when she offensively claimed that all black women grow up dreaming of wearing mink. Maybe she did, but to rope all African-American women in her sadistic childhood fantasies is wrong and borders on racist. There are many compassionate women of color who would not be caught dead in fur. Instead of “taking her cue” from Aretha, perhaps Ms. Goldberg should do so from our First Lady. Michelle Obama proudly states that she will not wear fur. She is a kind and informed woman, and obviously a person of integrity. I dare say she makes a much better role model than an aging diva who makes it a point to promote animal abuse.
I suggest that you dedicate a portion of a future episode to how Ms. Shepherd’s fur coat was made. Allow your audience to see not just the finished product, but the whole bloody and cruel process. I’m sure it would be very harrowing and informative for both your audience and hosts. Perhaps you could have Martha Stewart as a guest and she could show you this PSA she recorded.
There is nothing glamorous about fur — it is cruel and merciless. Fur exists only to inflate the ego of the vain, the ignorant, and the heartless.
Sincerely,
Ari Solomon
Note to the reader: If you’d like to let ABC and The View know your thoughts on this issue, you can do so here: http://abc.go.com/site/contact-us
Additional note: If you insist of the look of fur, check out www.fabulousfurs.com for amazing fakes that look as real as it gets. For those with more of a budget (do you know a real fur can cost up to $600,000!? When there are people starving in the world!) consider a Marc Bouwer couture faux-fur coat. Personally, we’d rather skip promoting this trend all together and rock our absolutely gorgeous Vaute Couture coat – totally animal free and glam, glam, glam!
Ari Solomon is the President and co-creator of the celebrated vegan candle line A Scent of Scandal After graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Ari first worked as an actor in New York and Los Angeles, and later hosted the wildly popular ARI’S HOLLYWOOD UPDATE on Miami’s Y-100FM. Now a prolific activist and writer for animal and human rights, Ari is a columnist for The Huffington Post.
Tags: baby mink, Chihuahuas, Christina Applegate, Fabulous Fur Coats, FabulousFurs.com, fox, fox fur coat, fur animals, Fur Coats, Marc Bouwer, Martha Stewart, Mink, mink coats, minks, Sherri Shepherd, The Golden Girls, The View, vaute couture
Readers Comments (47)
*standing ovation* I am a woman of color, and I was deeply embarrassed by Whoopi’s thoughtless comment. Even before I became a vegan I never dreamed of wearing fur. Not even once. I always thought it was ugly, but since I’ve become fully aware of the fur farm process, it is even more so. Shame on Sherri Shepherd. Let’s hope that the ladies of The View will learn from their sad, cruel mistake.
YES!!!!!!!! The ladies of the view are so totally out of it and gross. I wrote to SS’s PR rep yesterday.
BTW- Coats for Cubs is a great organization that builds beds for abandoned and sick animals w/ donated fur. Just cas your fur is vintage, doesn’t mean it’s ok. It still perpetuates the glamorization of fur. Send your furs:
The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L St., NW
Washington, D.C. 20037
Attn: Coats for Cubs
[...] ***The GirlieGirl Army*** » Blog Archive » An Open Letter to Cruella De Villa AKA Sherri Shepherd girliegirlarmy.com/blog/20091113/an-open-letter-to-cruella-de-villa-aka-sherri-shepherd – view page – cached Guest Blogging Glamazon Ari Solomon sends a strong message out to cold hearted Sherri Shepherd letting him know NO true glamorous beauty would be caught dead in the tortured skins of baby animals; [...]
Yes, yes, yes! Amen Ari.
[...] http://girliegirlarmy.com/blog/20091113/an-open-letter-to-cruella-de-villa-aka-sherri-shepherd/For over 20 years, animal activists and celebrities from Martha Stewart to Christina Applegate to The Golden Girls have been speaking out and educating the public about the heinous cruelty involved in fur production. Sherri Shepherd thinks killing animals for a … Additional note: If you insist of the look of fur, check out http://www.fabulousfurs.com for amazing fakes that look as real as it gets. For those with more of a budget (do you know a real fur can cost up to $600000! … [...]
I don’t even know Ari personally and I LOVE him for saying the things he says so eloquently.
It’s very important that we stay away from purchasing faux fur as well. There’s a lot of intentional mislabeling going around and sometimes fur that has been dyed or braided or what not will be labeled as faux fur. Sometimes the “faux fur” belongs to a dog or cat.
There’s now this bizarre trend of “died of natural causes” fur. I suspect this is yet another “humane”, “cage free”, “organic”, “grass fed”, “free range” marketing tactic to make people feel less guilty. I actually saw this on the website of an acquaintance’s newly opened boutique. Ironically, he ‘s the only retailer in my area who carries Ari’s A Scent of Scandal candles. I don’t know how to approach him and say that he should stop selling fur. It’s easier when it’s someone you don’t know but when it’s someone you do know. I’m still figuring out a way to tell him…
@Chastity: You are right, I highly doubt the poor animal died of “natural causes.” Even if it did, why on earth would anyone want to wear its decaying, processed skin and fur? Gross! The whole thing makes me sick.
[...] http://girliegirlarmy.com/blog/20091113/an-open-letter-to-cruella-de-villa-aka-sherri-shepherd/For over 20 years, animal activists and celebrities from Martha Stewart to Christina Applegate to The Golden Girls have been speaking out and educating the public about the heinous cruelty involved in fur production. Sherri Shepherd thinks killing animals for a … Additional note: If you insist of the look of fur, check out http://www.fabulousfurs.com for amazing fakes that look as real as it gets. For those with more of a budget (do you know a real fur can cost up to $600000! … [...]
Beautiful letter!
the fur industry is one of the most heartless and barbaric on the planet. I’m disgusted and horrified by anyone who can find any shred of an excuse to wear and promote this practice. Thumbs up to Ari and GGA for shining the light, as usual.
I’d never wear fur. Faux or not. It is not pretty.
My roommate was just given a full-length vintage fox coat and it is hanging in the hallway closet. i have to respect her but I am so upset about it. Yes, it really is vintage but its like harboring a real skeleton in the closet. Just gross!
I personally know black women – and men – who would not be caught dead in a fur coat. I have enjoyed watching The View but these woman have lost a lot of points with me after hearing them recently laughing at Barbara Walters because she said after learning how intelligent pigs are, she won’t eat bacon again. They made the point that they don’t care how smart pigs are, they will eat them anyway. They don’t seem to care about the suffering of animals at all. It seems to me that black people, especially, would be more sensitive, due to their history – and many of them are – just not these women on The View.
[...] Scent of a Scandal Co-Founder Ari Solomon posted an open letter to Shepherd on GirlieGirlArmy.com. In it he [...]
Please send ABC a comment telling them that fur is not okay and that the opposite view should get time on the show. Just takes two seconds. Just select “The View” as the show and comment away!
http://abc.go.com/site/contact-us
[...] A Scent of Scandal owner Ari Solomon wrote on Girliegirlarmy.com: [...]
actually, i’m at a total loss for words. the joy of pet ownership should be illegal for those who wear real fur. i can’t think of a worse punishment except to put those humans in traps and cages, etc.
Don’t they get it that it’s CRUEL!!!! Besides looking low-class, fat and dated. What a bunch of stupid bitches, yes I’m done with that show too, I hope it gets canceled. Maybe they can witness the pain these poor animals endure someone enlighten these bitches.
horrible horrible horrible. I am so disappointed in The View. Next thing they will be serving veal and foie gras on-air.
Wrote an email to them this AM.
P E R F E C T I O N !!!!!!!!!!
We LOVE you Ari. Thank you for being such an eloquent voice for the voiceless. The animals need amazing and compassionate people like you to speak out on their behalf.
Your friend in the cause,
Joan Ozelis Calpin
Why should I care what that fat fur hag wears?
Thank you for letting me about the airing of this show- I will definitely direct comments to ABC! Shame on these thoughtless people!
Thanks Ari for your intelligent and accurate response to that awful show and those awful women. They need to get with the times, it’s not the freakin’ ice ages and we’re not cavemen. Fur is dead.
You go Ari!! I don’t watch this ridiculous program and this just reinforces my feelings. It’s despicable!! And if Ms. Shepherd thinks she looks fashionable she is sadly mistaken. Fur makes you look fat and ridiculous. And Ms. Golberg once again has proven how ignorant she is by insinuating that all black women want to wear fur. This is the same women who defended Michael Vick’s torture of dogs by saying it was a southern tradition. Not one of the women on this show are fit to be in the same room with someone like Michelle Obama, Stella Mccartney, Betty White or Rue Mcclanahan. These women not only have intelligence and class but compassion as well.
Sorry but this Shepherd , is someone important? For me, that i live in Portugal, is just another stupid morron, that likes fur. Look at her; she is so uggly!! She need to make this kind of comments, to get some attention. Fat , uggly , stupid, is what she is.
Include Whoopi Goldberg! Don’t watch Sherri’s new show or support Whoopi. They also mocked Barbara Walters who recently gained sympathy of pigs enough to decide to no longer eat them. This was in an earlier show that week. Whoopi and Sherri talked about how delicious the piglets looked. ugh.
I’ve never liked that show – a bunch of shrill hysterical women trying to talk over each other. Ugh. From what I’ve been reading here about their thoughtless and cruel comments about animals, I like the show even LESS. I hope the show gets cancelled.
Check out this uplifting and inspiring video on why people choose vegan: http://veganvideo.org/
I can’t believe how cruel and uncompassion the girls from the view can be about what it takes to make a fur coat. I am very disappointed with the show and the network. Being black is not an excuse for being uncompassionate “bitch”
My family and I are disgusted by the comments made about the fur coat and pigs on the last view shows…these women are obviously in favor of animal cruelty and are very selfish and thoughtless people.
We will not be watching anymore of this show…we cherish life and respect innocent beings. We will be watching shows that promote good things.
Great article! Agreed!
This is absolutley disgusting. Right after I watched the clip from the View, I started crying. I am appalled that these public figures who are SUPPOSED to be educated and knowledgeable about the issues they speak about, are actually completely oblivious to reality. I doubt any of them did ANY research about what goes into the making of a fur coat. They obviously don’t care and are stuck in their ways. Status and looking a certain way are much more important than the suffering of poor innocent animals apparently. I would like to see Whoopi and Sherri (and the other ladies for remaining silent) take respoonsibility for their words and actions and admit their ignorance and take this opportunity to stand up for the rights of animals. They have strong voices and have a great opportunity to impact the public’s view.
Ari- Incredible blog!! Thank you! I did send a comment to their show. I wish i could say that i am going to boycott the show but i wouldn’t watch that shit for anything! Keep it coming; you’re a very effective animal advocate! And remember- “ONLY FRIGID WOMEN WEAR FUR!”
@Chastity—-firstly: Duh…they did not die of NATURAL CAUSES!! What r they doing….starting an old age home for foxes/chinchillas/minks? And then when they calmly pass away in their comfy beds…they save the fur until they have 80 of them?? That is one of the most absurd pathetic things I have ever heard. RE: ur friends….it can b difficult to confront a friend…but morally u must. I would organize info from peta, and a million other well written sources, and give him the info and tell him that ur heart and soul would not allow u to watch him continue to sell fur without educating him as to the horrific circumstances that the animals endure, when they should have a free, painfree, peaceful life as ALL living creatures should. If he has a heart at all, he will appreciate your strength and willingness to help creatures who have no voice and have to rely on HUMANS to do the right thing for them. U would b absolutely amazed at the huge majority of people who are not aware of what actually goes on w/ fur and w/ animals for food. I am amazed and shocked daily at the educated people who are literally shocked when I tell them what the industries are really like. So, we ALL need to educateeducateeducate others….as often as possible…via verbally/blogs/facebook/emails/twitter/youtube….anywhere possible. As I said b4….animals rely on the more intelligent animal (HA!!)…..US to help them and try to drastically reduce the market for fur and food…and hopefully one day thre will no market at all. So, don’t be afraid to confront people and to volunteer as much information as u possibly can to others. RE: The View——they NEED to invite an animal activist to present the ‘other side’—-so that the 15+ million people that watched this disgusting episode are informed. They absolutely must do this. Thanx for helping the animals….it is absolutely necessary
PS: We are the ONLY animals that kills for enjoyment and the thrill of killing. So, who thinks we are the most intelligent of animals?
Thanks Ari & Chloe!!
This is what I wrote to Sherri:
Sherri Shepherd,
The cries of the fox, chinchilla, or rabbit who are vaginally & anally electrocuted to death – the raccoon who is bludgeoned to death, the mink whose neck is snapped, the beaver whose ribcage is crushed, & whose miserable life is spent caged & malnourished in a death-camp, are all silenced by your cold ignorance. The wild Lynx who chews her own arm off to escape, or slowly bleeds to death in a steel trap is no better off.
Would you wear the fur if it were our own dog or cat?
I saw that episode while working out. The words and opinions of Sherri and Elisabeth made me want to vomit right there on the treadmill. Thank you Thank you Ari. I just hope they see your letter and these incredible comments of support of what you had to say.
I first read this at Ecorazzi and have already written to ABC and posted the article to Facebook. Thank you, Ari, for writing this letter. I hope it does some good, which it will if it changes at least one person’s mind. I have four cat children and am horrified at the thought of anyone turning them into a coat! I only wish more people could view this issue in that light.
YES! Thank you for bursting their cold-hearted bubble. I will follow up on ABC.com
Excellent letter!!! Thank you. I’m disgusted by their callous and shallow attitudes. Hey View ladies, being that heartless is creepy, not cute.
I want to first say that I totally agree with the folks here – fur is revolting, and I am grateful to Ari for making his thoughts public.
However, I’d also like to comment on a couple odd threads in these comments: first, the total fat hatred herein (LOVE how many of you have accused the women on The View of being shallow, then, in the same breath, said they are fat – as if that has anything to do with wearing fur). It is downright depressing to hear otherwise totally respectable people stoop to calling someone fat in order to make a point.
Second – do you people seriously watch The View??
I watch “The View” – but not “seriously.” It’s one of those shows that are on when you go to the gym or do errands or fold laundry… not a dvr’ing kinda show.. but something that somehow seems to get watched on occasion. The point is not do WE watch it, but that millions of Americans DO… and what Sherri was promoting (without another “View” on the roundtable to debate) was deplorable.
Amen — and comments supporting this post have been sent to ABC.
We find it difficult to understand the human psyche…how some humans can love animals such as dogs or cats, but could care less about animals such as minks, cows or pigs. All animals are sentient beings.
Since I do not watch The View, I was unaware that this had happened. Thank you for informing me of this. Unfortunately, this is the same show where Whoopi Goldberg defended Mike Vick and wondered when rape is real. Does anyone take anything these silly, vapid women say or do seriously?
Actually, no: we are NOT the only animal that kills for the thril of killing – which is not what the fur industry is anyway.
Lions kill cheetah cubs and hyenas found in “their” territory. Dolphins execute rape and gang rape. Infanticde is extremely common, and not just between competing species; male bears kill cubs in order to make females sexually receptive. And on and on and on. OBVIOUSLY we are the most intelligent animals or this discussion couldn’t even take place, and only a retarded troglodyte imagines otherwise. Get off your treadmills and unglued from your TV sets and experience the real world once in a while. Learn something about nature that isn’t based on some propaganda you read on the Net, dummies.
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