PETA’s Verdict on Lady Gaga’s Meat Dress? Not Well Done

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Lady Gaga accepts the award for video of the year for 'Bad Romance' while wearing a meat dress at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, California, September 12, 2010. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Everyone knows that Lady Gaga likes raising the, ahem,  steaks when it comes to cultivating her image. But was the now infamous dress she donned to MTV’s VMA’s on Sunday simply one “offal” oufit too many?

Gaga — who walked away with eight “moon man” awards — maintains that the dress was made out of prime cuts of raw meat and understandably drew fierce criticism from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) founder Ingrid Newkirk. She said that, “Meat is the decomposing flesh of an abused animal who didn’t want to die, and after being under the TV lights it would smell like the rotting flesh that it is and likely be crawling with maggots. Not too attractive, really.” (See pictures of Lady Gaga fans.)

The singer’s response came on Ellen Degeneres’s talk show, and has been interpreted as a protest against the U.S. army for its treatment of its gay soldiers. “[The dress] has many interpretations,” said Gaga. If we don’t stand up for our rights soon we’re going to have as much rights as the meat on our bones. And I am not a piece of meat.” (See video of Lady Gaga talking about her biggest influence.)

The dress was the work of Los Angeles-based Argentinian designer Franc Fernandez, and was worn just days after the 24 year-old singer appeared on the cover of Japanese Vogue in a bikini also (supposedly) made from meat. (via BBC)