Karl Lagerfeld Defends Fur, Skinny People

Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld dismissed "childish" criticism of the fur industry, calling animals "beasts" he has trouble eating meat.

From The Telegraph:

Hunters in the north "make a living having learnt nothing else than hunting", he said, "killing those beasts who would kill us if they could."

Animals should be killed "nicely" if at all possible, said Lagerfeld, who admitted to being queasy about eating meat.

"I can hardly eat meat because it has to look like something what it was not when it was alive," he said.

Lagerfeld went on to roll his eyes at concerns over eating disorders in the fashion industry.

"In France there are, I think, less than one per cent of people who are too skinny.

"There are nearly 30 per cent of young people who are too fat. So let's take care of the zillions of the too fat before we talk about the percentage that's left."

Lagerfeld struggled with his weight before slimming down in 2001.

After a Chanel fashion show in May, 2000:

Comments

[Elahrairah]

James Bond villain?

[joeyfoto]

It is difficult to defend Karl Lagerfeld's comments because he made them so inelegantly. Had he stated the same points of view: That taking fur and meat are normal parts of life for millions of human beings but that animals lives should be taken as painlessly and respectfully as possible and that obesity is a far greater health problem, statistically, than bulimia and anorexia; so we should focus proportionally greater attention on those problems for the sake of world health, we could have a more rational discussion on the subjects.

The fact remains that 99% of the strident animal rights activists wear leather shoes and coats, leaving us with a picture that the morality of an animal's right-to-life is based upon being cute. The judgmental attitude of those living on "Planet PETA" does not advance the cause of ethical treatment of animals. It turns people away. When people adopt a cause with passion, they must remember that six months or a year earlier they, themselves, may have viewed the problem in ways that now make them angry. Compassion is increased when we show compassion toward ourselves and each other - the rest is politics.

[MJinCanada]

I've never actually heard of a harp seal attacking anyone, although I know that mink are nasty, unlovable little blighters and the closest one should get to a wolverine is parka trim.

And, without going anywhere near Planet PETA, I do believe that treating, using and dispatching animals humanely is part of "human" compassion.

That said, couldn't fashion designers be more compassionate toward women in general? That is to say, what gives with that horrible white outfit that looks like an exploded duvet?

[RoseBlue]

Ah, so the guy despises women and animals. Charming.

[hamchunk]

After reading this article, I now feel like having a Harp Seal steak with condor fried eggs on a placemat edged with baby mink.

[CitizenGeek]

That is a fair point: obesity is a much bigger problem than people being underweight. We really should focus on the former problem much more.

[jsump]

So why cant we address two problems at once? Heck, they may even be related.

[emmacop]

Emaciated females tend to have great difficulty conceiving and birthing children. Since that's their primary biological purpose it's relatively obvious something has gone seriously wrong in the fashion industry.

Listen to your biology teacher rather than some idiotic fashion designer justifying his liposuction.

[Beka13]

Fat people need to stop hating on the people who care enough about themselves to eat and exercise correctly.

[jsump]

Are diet and exercise the only reason people have obesity problems? I suppose genetics. metabolism, poverty and emotional health have noting to do with it.

[missjasmine]

HA! so true, but Karl is still a wackadoo

[youknowwhat]

I'd like to hear what the animals would say.

[smag]

Before or after you eat it?

[youknowwhat]

Ha! that was funny. Before

[Mnemanth]

Yep, he's kinda creepy, but:
Women- just like the rest of civilization- need to accept responsibility for themselves. If a woman is so shallow as to think that starving yourself to death is smart, then give her a Darwin award and move on.
If parents are allowing their kids to buy into this cr8p without sitting them down and discussing some life lessons, then shame on the parents. Issue a Darwin award to the whole family.
You can make excuses for these people all day long. All day! Ultimately, and you can't argue this, it's their own fault for internalizing the absurd.

[Clavis]

I think Karl thinks he's in the Matrix...

[bbbbmer]

Lagerfeld looked healthier fat... Now he just resembles an old tired shriveled up scrotum... "An ounce of pretention is worth a pound of manure..."

[parisa22]

Look everyone has an opinion and he is just expressing his, so he shouldn’t be chastised for it. The same can be said about how we all feel about his designs. It’s time to throw out the old and bring in the new! The House of Chanel needs to reconsider Lagerfeld as a so called “designer” and hire Valentino for the job. Now that’s what you call talent that’s tasteful… at least he doesn’t hide behind a fan and looks presentable.

[jsump]

Why can't we chastise him regarding his opinion? What makes him immune to criticism. Now, if we were trying to incarcerate him that would be another story.

[TScheisskopf]

We are all poorer for the fact that Lagerfeld never appeared on the SNL skit "Sprockets". It could have been the most relevant thing he has ever done.

If you doubt my posit, just ask the guy who pumps your gas who "Karl Lagerfeld" is. Mr. Gas Pumper will give a look not unlike that of a dog that just farted and is looking at his butt to see what the racket is.

[bimplebean]

Except that no one pumps gas for anyone else any more...

[RoseBlue]

Nope. New Jersey does.

[research]

Oregon

[PatA]

It is really criminal that a man such as this is getting away with affecting young women's concepts of what is healthy and what isn't. He should be locked away.