Martha Stewart Removed From ‘Worst-Dressed’ List

PETA has issued a pardon to Martha Stewart and removed her from its annual “Worst-Dressed” list after she revealed on 20/20 that the fur scarf that she wore on the day of her conviction was fake.

The doomed domestic diva told Barbara Walters on Friday, “That was faux fur. I’m sorry. It was faux. My daughter doesn’t allow me to wear fur, Barbara. We don’t wear fur. Maligned, maligned, maligned. Soft and cuddly, that’s all it was.”

Stewart could have saved herself the shame of appearing at the top of the “Worst-Dressed” list had she responded to PETA’s letter asking if the scarf was real. Furriers, always desperate to boost their dying industry, had proclaimed that the scarf was dyed chinchilla and started selling knock-off “Martha scarves.”

It’s a good thing it was faux, because on fur farms, animals are genitally electrocuted or have their necks snapped for their pelts.

Today, PETA’s president, Ingrid Newkirk, wrote to Stewart to let her know that she’s no longer PETA Enemy #1. Click here to read the letter.

The revised “Worst-Dressed” for 2004 are as follows:

	1. Diana Ross—The ’60s sensation has now stooped to taking free furs in exchange for “modeling” for celebrity suck-up designer Dennis Basso. But PETA opted not to protest Diana’s furry turn on the catwalk, thinking that she might not be able to walk a straight line anyway. PETA hopes that once she’s behind bars, Diana will give a thought to the minks who have committed no crime, yet get a death sentence on filthy fur farms.
	2. Kobe Bryant—Probably never met a beaver he didn’t want to take advantage of.
	3. Donatella Versace—Beauty isn’t even skin-deep for this skin-swathed Cruella DeVil.
	4. Céline Dion—Near, far, wherever you are, your furs should be moth-balled with your fading star.
	5. Katherine Harris—Her furs make her sweaty under the Florida sun, and those pelts are as hotly contested as the election she presided over.
	6. Lara Flynn Boyle—Unlike the entire forest of foxes it takes to cover up previous worst-dressed winner Star Jones, it likely takes just a fox-and-a-half to cover this incredible shrinking actor, so PETA ranks her last for having caused the fewest animals to be drowned and strangled for her coats.

One fur-wearer who is notably absent from PETA’s list this year is Liza Minnelli, who took top dishonors in 2003. This spring, she told PETA that she prefers faux fur and blamed pretentious ex-hubby David Gest for making her wear the real thing. In good faith, PETA has sent her a faux fur coat, but she remains on PETA probation.

For more information, please visit PETA’s Web site FurIsDead.com.