Ellen DeGeneres Faces Outrage From Fans Over New Shoe Line

There can often be negativity and misinformation in the media surrounding vegetarianism, veganism, and animal rights activists. So when a likeable celebrity such as Ellen DeGeneres publicly announces that she is vegan, it tends to be good and very welcome news!

Ellen has said she became a vegan out of her love for animals, stating:

“I personally chose to go vegan because I educated myself on factory farming and cruelty to animals, and I suddenly realized that what was on my plate were living things with feelings. I just couldn’t disconnect myself from it any longer.”

Vegans and animal rights activists everywhere must have been nodding their heads in unison and clapping their hands when they heard that statement. Ellen even has a blog dedicated to vegan outreach, which is a section off The Ellen DeGeneres Show website called “Going Vegan With Ellen”, and offers vegan recipes and encourages her fans to try “Meatless Mondays”.

Despite all these great efforts and her educated stance, Ellen is now on the receiving end of outrage from animal rights activists and fans. Why? It all has to do with her latest entrepreneurial venture.

The TV host announced that she has made a new partnership with fashion brand Camuto Group, which is the same business behind the shoe company Nine West. She will create a line of footwear–focused mostly on casual shoes like her famous sneakers, all under the ED Ellen DeGeneres label. The shoes will range from $80 to $300, and the line is set to make its debut next spring. Ellen said of the partnership and new venture:

“I am so excited for my brand to partner with the Camuto Group. They say you have to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes to really know how they feel. Well, now you can literally walk a mile in my shoes, or even further if you choose.”

As Ellen is a vegan, the backlash arose since many fans logically assumed it would be a pleather shoe line. They were wrong. The ED collection is set to feature leather, suede, denim, canvas and linen options. An Ellen fan, who wanted to confirm the news, made calls to the shoe line and the employee she spoke with confirmed that the items she inquired about were “genuine leather, genuine suede.”

The news resulted in a lot of backlash directed at Ellen, with fans taking to social media and calling the comedian a “hypocrite”. Jane Velez-Mitchell, former CNN and HLN news host, posted a message to Ellen on her Facebook page, stating: “Ellen, you still have time to change your mind. You had to have known – with your very public statement of veganism – that you would be called out for jumping to the dark side. You still have time to redeem yourself. FIX IT!”

While DeGeneres has yet to make any public comments or statements about the controversy she is surrounded in, The Global Conservation Group has now launched a petition to the star, asking her to reconsider her move for the sake of the animals who will needlessly suffer. In it, they urge Ellen to keep to her principles and stick to cruelty-free options that include faux and synthetic leather, waxed cotton, and so much more.

Only time will tell if this vegan celebrity will remain someone her fans would actually want to walk in the shoes of.

Photo Credit: http://fa12phl301.providence.wikispaces.net/Ellen+DeGeneres