Lady Gaga Slammed by PETA, Branded a ‘Traitor’ for Wearing Fur

Lady Gaga has hit a raw nerve with the members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The "Poker Face" star once told talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, "I hate fur and I don't wear fur," but recent photos snapped of Mother Monster gallivanting around in what appears to be a real-fur overcoat seems to prove otherwise.

Check out the photos here.

Vice president of PETA Dan Mathews wrote an open and rather derisive letter about the furry ordeal to Gaga that was released to the public on Monday. In it Mathews states:

"Many of your gay fans, I among them, have long admired what you told Ellen: 'I hate fur and I don't wear fur.' These recent photos of you in fox and rabbit and with a wolf carcass make it appear that you have amnesia."

Mathews then goes on to ask if the "You and I" songstress has had a full change of heart on the matter, and if so, he insinuates that her actions may be the target of PETA's upcoming awareness campaign this fall. He then suggests that Gaga is a traitor to the cause, even bringing her strong support of Gay Rights into the matter, writing:

"What happened? Are your stylists telling you that it's fake, or are you a turncoat? Many gays are animal advocates because we recognize that the same arrogance and indifference that some have toward animal suffering has at times been directed toward us personally because of our orientation. PETA has long participated in Pride events around the country, and just last week, we helped lead protests against Chick-fil-A. But by wearing those dumb furs in a heat wave, you're making yourself a target just like the mindless Kim Kardashian."

Ouch.

Mathews closes the letter by asking if the statement Gaga made about fur on Ellen was genuine, or just a publicity hoax.

Following the release of the scathing letter, Lady Gaga tweeted Monday night (taken from a post on her fan site littlemonsters):

@ladygaga: "For those press and such who are writing about whether or not my fur is actually real, please don't forget to credit the designer HERMES. Thank You! LOVE, gaga."

The photos in question show Gaga wearing a Hermes fur coat while holding a puppy in her arms in Bulgaria.