Twice in July, major American consumer magazines ripped PETA for its increasingly strident, publicity-hungry approach to the animal rights issue. US Magazine ran a story in its August issue about the defection of various supermodels and celebrities from the animal rights cause. The story posed the question, "Is Hollywood's pet cause beginning to lose its bite?" Writer Stacie Stukin observed, "Nowadays, PETA and the animal rights movement in general meet with more open skepticism from celebrities, sometimes even from those who are supporters. They're less receptive to PETA's outrageous publicity stunts." Pointing to the resurgence of fur, steak and cigars, Stukin noted that some stars are now "embracing material luxury with an appetite."

On July 14, New York Magazine ran a similar story, highlighting PETA's loss of celebrity support. The story, entitled "Back From Siberia," leads with the comment, "Despite PETA's best efforts, fur is flying down more runways than ever, and models who loudly renounced Revillon are, one by one, slipping into mink again."

The article also noted that PETA revenues are down 10% for the past two years, an indication of the organization's waning public support. PETA has also lost the support of several supermodels who decided that, on second thought, they'd rather wear fur than go naked. The defectors include Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Claudia Schiffer, Patricia Velasquez, and Irina Pantaeva. Affording to Turlington's booker, other big-name models may be avoiding fur on the runway, but they're back to wearing it on the street.

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