Madonna whips PETA into frenzy

December 9th, 2006

London, England - Madonna has upset PETA for wearing a real chinchilla fur coat as she left a London restaurant the other night.

The star was photographed wearing the $69,000 coat as she emerged from a Mayfair restaurant this week with her husband, film director Guy Ritchie.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) accused the singer of ignoring cruelty of animals.

It urged her to watch videos of animals being farmed for their pelts.

A spokesman for Madonna - who is set to design a range of clothing for clothing chain H&M - said he was unable to comment.

Poorva Joshipura, director of Peta Europe, said: "We encourage anyone who wears fur to watch videos of these animals being electrocuted, caught in traps and skinned alive.

"Thousands of people, including Paris Hilton, have said that the videos changed their minds about wearing fur.

"Chinchillas are shy, intelligent animals who can live for up to 15 years in the wild. Yet on fur farms, these animals are violently killed while fully conscious."