Reese drops python bag?
As Elle Woods in Legally Blonde she was obsessed with her collection of handbags.
But Reese Witherspoon's most recent personal acquirement has landed her in hot water with animal rights groups, as she was spotted with a $4,000 python skin purse illegal in California. Witherspoon chloe bag $4,000,
While the Oscar-winning actress,35, will not be in trouble with the law, she has been criticised for carrying the exclusive Chloe Paraty python and leather bag.
The Walk The Line star could not have purchased the item in California, as it has been illegal to sell the material there since 1970. Witherspoon sexiest vegetarian
A spokeswoman for animal rights charity PETA told the Mail: 'No matter how much Reese paid for that bag, the animals paid a much higher price.
'Every year, millions of snakes are impaled on hooks or nailed to trees by their heads and skinned alive.
'Hoses are inserted into the mouths of large snakes—like pythons—and their bodies are pumped full of water to loosen their skin so that it will cut away more easily.
'The animals' peeled, writhing bodies are then discarded, and it often takes days for the animals to die from the effects of shock and dehydration.'
The spokeswoman also said the charity hopes it is a case of ignorance rather than malice on Reese's part.
She said: 'We can't imagine that she'd wish to contribute to this hidden suffering, especially for something as frivolous as a fashion accessory that can be replicated with no bloodshed.
'These days, it's easy to have a look that kills without killing, with fake snake, mock croc, python pleather, and other designer items that pay tribute to the beauty of these animals without massacring them.'
Ironically Reese has previously been voted the world's sexiest vegetarian by animal rights group PETA.
The group has promised to send her an undercover video expose hosted by her Walk The Line co-star Joaquin Phoenix about the cruelty behind the exotic skins industry.
According to RadarOnline, under the California Penal Code Section 653o it is unlawful to import python into California for commercial purposes.
This includes possession with intent to sell, or sell within the state.
However, it is not illegal if someone purchases python elsewhere and brings it in.
She was spotted with the fancy bag as she padded around the trendy Venice area of Los Angeles on Friday.
She grinned on her phone as the designer purse attracted admiring glances from passersby.
The python Chloe bag is on sale online in black for an eye-watering $3,820, not including sales tax.
Other celebrities criticised for having python skin bags include Kylie Minogue and Eva Longoria.
The ethical hot potato has seen fashion houses such as Victoria's Secret, H&M, Overstock.com, Cole Haan, and Nike sign PETA's pledge promising never to sell exotic skins due to the cruelty.
It is not the first time Reese has been connected with an animal rights row.
Her movie Water For Elephants was criticised after it emerged one of its eponymous animals had been inhumanely treated by trainers.
Tai was seen being given electric shocks and beaten with hooks in a shocking video.
The secret footage was released by charity Animal Defenders International and showed her crying out in pain when she was shocked into performing a headstand.
The filmed abuse caused makers 20th Century Fox to speak out against the harm of animals, though they denied Tai was harmed while on the set.
Source: dailymail
