Morning:
8°c
The fur flies as Nigella says she would kill bear for its skin
Terry Kirby10 Dec 2008
NIGELLA Lawson landed herself in the soup with animal rights groups today after suggesting she would happily kill a bear in the wild and wear its skin.
Interviewed on BBC1's The One Show, Lawson, said going into a shop and buying a fur coat would be a "moment of weakness" but added: ''If I could go out into the woods and kill a bear myself, I would then wear it proudly as a trophy." She made a stabbing motion with her hands.
When interviewer Adrian Chiles pressed her: "You're a nice lady who makes chocolate puddings, why would you want to go out killing bears for something to wear?" Lawson said: "If you're in nature and it's either you go or the bear goes..."
Asked again if she would kill an animal to wear its fur for warmth and fashion, she said: "I might if I lived in Alaska."
The exchange came in a discussion about celebrities and fur. Chiles said: "For celebrities who do wear fur, if they started skinning little dogs and strapping those on their backs, would they feel any differently?" Lawson, 48, interjected: "I'd love a dog or a cat."
A spokesman for the chef later said the comments were meant to be light-hearted and had been taken out of context but animals rights groups reacted strongly.
A spokesman for Respect for Animals, which campaigns against the fur trade, said: "Her comments were callous and lacked any human decency. It was an astonishing thing to say on live television. If she could see the way in which bears and other animals are killed in the wild, she wouldn't have been so flippant.
"Bears are routinely hunted down by dogs, chased into trees and shot, often inaccurately, while they try to scramble to safety. The animals suffer in agony for some time before they are killed. Nigella is serving to endorse this kind of practice. In my view Nigella has blood on her hands."
Viva! deputy director, Justin Kerswell, said: "Nigella should stick to making double entendres about puddings. Most fur comes from animals farmed in appalling conditions. Much of it from China where there are no animal welfare laws and horrific cruelty is an everyday occurrence. Also, many animals are under threat from extinction or over-hunting."
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals added: "Nigella's comments were ill-judged and show her in an unattractive light." The International Union for the Conservation of Nature lists six bear species as vulnerable or endangered.
A spokesman for Lawson said: ''She was pointing out that, if you are a meat eater, you need to know where your food is from and the same goes for what people wear.'' He did not know if Lawson had ever worn fur.
Reader views (31)
Some people think they are funny and they sound like her. They are not.
- Tina, peace.usa, 16/09/2009 23:31
Report abuse
Very disappointing from Nigella, these stupid remarks. I thought she was clever but big mistake, she's not. Too bad. I used to enjoy watching her drooling over the pots and pans, end of the show for me and I guess, probably for a few other people as well !
Basically comments like hers are to stupid to bother talking about it really. I just crossed her off my books and my tv set for good...
- Josephine Thalbach, London, 11/12/2008 12:52
Report abuse
The gall of this woman! The only way that I'd let her even touch the bear carcass would be to skin and prepare the fur pelt for me. It is a man's job to make the kill and a woman's job to clean, skin, tan, sew and other necessary tasks to prepare the fur.
However, she's pretty easy on the eyes so I would expect her company in the bear rug for the evening pleasures. She better get her roles in a better perspective or a good beating will come her way!
- Bob Mnt'Eer, Parkersburg, US, 11/12/2008 11:01
Report abuse
Why do some people feel so threatened by those who find killing an animal purely for adornment rather repulsive? I also notice some people feel threatened by vegetarians! I'm vegetarian and, according to the code of my religion, would never consider myself better than any other human being. However, I do have my own, personal, code of what I feel is right and wrong. Is that really unacceptable to some?
- Jo-Jo, Norwich United Kingdom, 11/12/2008 10:36
Report abuse
Blimey, what a terribly sensitive lot! First, fair play, if Nigella wants to take on a grizzly at hand to hand combat (even with a knife), I'll pay to watch it (come on ITV, what's stopping you?) Second, Vivienne, in what way is her food 'unhygienic????' Third, if God didn't want us to eat animals, he wouldn't have made them out of meat.
Lighten up, people, it was meant as a joke.
- Paul, London, 11/12/2008 10:03
Report abuse
Ignorance is annoying. I'm a vegeterian and against killing an animal in order to wear its skin, in any shape or form. as are most animal lovers.
- Brother Bear, London, UK, 11/12/2008 09:46
Report abuse
Agree with Dave Davies. Was this a really slow news day that this waste of space 'news' article had to be published? Her answers appear to have been taken out of context to make the head line more controversial and inflamatory than is warranted!
- H Phull, Northolt, 11/12/2008 09:22
Report abuse
I'd kill a chicken and eat it's yummy crispy skin, what's the difference? (have tried wearing chicken skin but doesn't look too good)
- Sandy, London, 11/12/2008 09:07
Report abuse
For goodness sake!! animal "rights" people seriously need to get a life. Why do the press give their arrogant "we're better than you" attitude any space at all.
Who do they think they are to try to impose their over inflated, emotional, fluffy bunny rhetoric on the rest of us.
I'm sure we could all find things to criticise about their lifestyles too, but do we bother? of course not. Just don't give these people any time or space, they're just muddle headed fanatics.
- Doug, Guildford, 11/12/2008 08:30
Report abuse
Nigella's view seems very nieve. Do people realy still believe that the fur they wear comes from an animal killed in the wild?
- Kathryn Hewitt, loughborough, 11/12/2008 08:14
Report abuse
Good on Nigella. All mankind should harvest their own food, kill and butcher their own meat, rather than rely on others to do it for them. Then we wouldn't have so many loony animal libber crazies falling out of the trees ...
Bear meat is edible. How about a nice bear meat recipe from Nigella to go with the bear fur coat! Good on her.
- Johnh, SA, Australia, 11/12/2008 07:02
Report abuse
I think Nigella Lawson should go off and kill a bear before she gets to old ... if this is what she wants to do ... but a lot of what she wants to do is fantasy. A grizzly pelt is about 1/4" thick, after being scraped down, (a brown bear pelt is thicker) and she probably isn't strong enough to wear one as a trophy. In addition it takes a pretty hefty rifle to knock down a bear and it's necessary to be a good shot ... she may be a fine lady but she's not capable of either ... so most of this is nonsense.
This isn't to say that Nigella couldn't come up with a pretty good recipe for cooking a bear that somebody else shot.
- Slagger21, Silver Spring, MD USA, 11/12/2008 06:48
Report abuse
Wow, are some people dense or what? I won't explain because they still wouldn't get it but... Geez Louise.. do they want to claim their chance to slam somebody they wouldn't even know how to make a cup of hot chocolate for? I'll bet they've never enjoyed what Nigella's pets enjoy daily! I think I know the reason for the sour grapes.
- Bonbon, Portland, OR, USA, 11/12/2008 06:27
Report abuse
Andrew Carter of London - you are joking right? Yours is the most stupid comment I have ever read on any subject. Animals don't have to contribute to human society! They are animals! and belong to the earth like the sky or the sea. Because we have exploited and abused them for so long means we need to protect them now. There is no question of "repayment" of any kind. Animals just are and should be left alone by humans.
And the cruelty and disgusting callousness of the other comments here make me despair. Bears are not "fluffy or cuddly" - they are large aggressive animals who just want to get on with their own existance. They don't deserve to be shot and killed for human beings to wear as a fashion coat. I'm not an animals activist but sheer compassion for another species tells me that we should respect and protect wild animals.
- Susannah, London UK, 11/12/2008 06:01
Report abuse
On the money Nigella
- David Kenny, Edmonton, 11/12/2008 05:55
Report abuse
I nominate Terry Kirby as Journalist of the year - no, make it the decade - for this hard-hitting story. And whoever thought of 'Hairy Issue' for the picture caption! Genius!
- Srs, London, 10/12/2008 23:38
Report abuse
Is there an economic crisis going on or is there not ?
Who really care what this Lady thinks.
- Bernard Parke, GUILDFORD, 10/12/2008 23:25
Report abuse
I strongly disagree with Mr. Carter's remarks about animal contributions to society. Animals needn't be a lunch or an article of clothing to be useful. Everything from service dogs for the disabled, canine units for the police, military porpoises, equine athletes, to devoted companions that have alerted home-owners to such emergencies as a fire. Animals are still underappreciated by some people. As for Ms. Lawson, she should try not to alienate a fan base with insensitive remarks.
- Jeff, Rochester, NY, USA, 10/12/2008 23:06
Report abuse
as educated people know animals are tortured and skinned alive for THEIR FUR and then made into fashion items for selfish shallow people to swan around in,maybe she did say it tongue in cheek, but she really should check out videos of animals being tortured and killed for the greedy fashion industry and then perhaps she would not be so flippant, how many more so called celebs are going to spend vast amounts of money on fur coats or fur trimmed garments before these animals finally get a break when you care for animals you are a good person but when you care for their rights it makes you a leftie or a terrorist,skin them or their families alive and see how trivial it then becomes , fur is not needed, not necessary and not acceptable in the 21st century
- Sean O'Leary, Walthamstow London, 10/12/2008 22:40
Report abuse
Is there no one with a brain cell here to back up Nigella? As a typical arrogant toff she clearly thinks all of the worlds resources are hers for eating, wearing and amusement regardless of suffering and consequences. The meat and leather argument doesn't stand up at all - animals in China are anally electrocuted to preserve the fur. In the words of Achilles - "Is there no one else?" - at least get a brain cell between you and a cursory understanding of the subject - then and only then come back to the table to speak to me.
- Mac (Not An Animal Rights Activist Or, Hull, East Yorkshire, 10/12/2008 22:17
Report abuse
I watched the show, it was all lighthearted banter and cracking jokes, surely you dont think she is going out to kill a bear do you? lighten up guys it`s nearly Christmas.
- Ted, wokingham uk, 10/12/2008 21:17
Report abuse
So Eskimos who hunt bears and seals are wrong to do so? Try growing nuts, soy beans and tofu in Alaska!!
- James Ritchie, new malden, surrey, 10/12/2008 20:51
Report abuse
I would gladly volunteer to keep the lady warm.
- Optimist, nottingham, 10/12/2008 19:56
Report abuse
Hmmm.... people are awfully callous... lets recap some people's philosophy....
1. Useless humans who just consume and pollute judge animals (that exist for their own sake not for humanities) as non-contributors to humans ergo should be killed at all possible opportunities.
2. The natural world in balance and harmony is unimportant (FYI - check out factory farming, fur farms etc...and their environmental effects)
3. More consumerism, hedonism, pollution, destruction will solve all problems
Riiiiiiight.... and murder is good, and when a woman says no she really means yes... and God only knows what other inane and asinine logic seems to work for some people...
Oh... and if you do eat ONE less meat dish, stop wearing/supporting fur, donate to a charity (any worthwhile charity) you are still doing something more than those that do NOTHING!!! NOT A DAMNED THING! Ideally we would all be vegans, bit barring that... you should still do something and don't worry about nay-sayers.... every little kindness counts!!!!
- Neda, Terra, 10/12/2008 19:54
Report abuse
can't help noticing all the spiteful ignorant comments are by men !! hunter gatherers huh ! Nigella will do or say anything for attention - very sad. her food is rubbish and unhygenic.
- Vivienne Thompson, folkestone u.k., 10/12/2008 19:46
Report abuse
They're always banging on about animal "rights" but what about animal responsibilities? Most animals contribute nothing to society unless you eat or wear them.
- Andrew Carter, London, 10/12/2008 17:18
Report abuse
Great - More non news. Lets ut all uppity because she would harm a fluffy cuddly wuddly bear.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 10/12/2008 16:30
Report abuse
Animal Rights activists - another bunch of the loony left looking to make make trouble.
Guess none of them eat meat or wear leather goods ?
Their hypocrisy is astounding
- Cap, london, 10/12/2008 15:51
Report abuse
What a humourless,witless bunch the animal-huggers are. Nigella was very obviously making a facaetious comment, not intended to be taken seriously at all.
These people need to get a life and forget about attempting to stifle any kind of light-hearted comment.
Do any of them eat meat?
- Kiwi Expat, London, UK, 10/12/2008 15:47
Report abuse
She came over as a remarkably stupid woman,who had not bothered to do anything about her appearance. Compared to the chic elegance of Miss Bleakely she looked a right scrubber.
- Mordwinoff, Lisle FRANCE, 10/12/2008 15:43
Report abuse
Animal rights, animal rights, in Nigella's defence she wasn't talking about purposefully setting out to go hunting & shooting for fur .. 'blood on her hands' .. how ridiculous & stupid are these people. Bring back fox hunting I say .. half the time they never caught the foxes & they got away .. which I'm glad about as I do like foxes, but these animal rights protestors are just trouble makers & are the ones that need shooting ..!!!
- Jd, Bucks, UK, 10/12/2008 15:25
Report abuse
