Once upon a time, a nice fur coat was a status symbol of the highest order. Owning one was tantamount to projecting an image of wealth and sophistication, but now, whether because of protests or alterations in personal taste, a whole lot of girls no longer lust after the item. That’s not to say people aren’t still buying furs, they very much are, but their decision to do so does come with moral judgments from certain sectors. The loudest of those condescending voices is typically PETA, and not surprisingly, they’ve used the holiday season to chastise one of the few famous women willing to strut around with a real fur coat in public.

Pop star Janet Jackson has been the spokeswoman for Blackglama the past two years. In her role as company front woman, she’s advocated the buying of furs, which according to PETA, makes her their biggest Grinch of 2011. The Los Angeles Times got a copy of the animal rights group’s official statement on the matter, and it is fraught with both hostility and word play. Take a look at it below…

"When Janet Jackson had her infamous 'wardrobe malfunction' during the Super Bowl, at least the flesh that popped into view was her own. Unlike the stolen animal skins that she drapes herself with, which are as dead as her taste in fashion (not to mention her career). Ms. Jackson, you're just plain nasty."

An example of when puns attack, as well as a good indication of why PETA is such a divisive organization, the above message pretty much operates as a fuck you. On the one hand, I get it. I don’t wear fur, and I’m not quite sure why people feel the need to still wear real fur. On the other hand, it’s a bit ridiculous to call her the biggest Grinch of 2011. This might be a sketchy personal choice, but some dude dressed up as Santa Claus and murdered his whole family on Christmas. I, personally, find that to be a tad bit colder.