Hollywood flocks to PETA's 30th-anniversary gala

Much of Hollywood is a sucker for a furry face, so it was only natural that a herd of celebs would turn out for the 30th-anniversary gala of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals at the Hollywood Palladium on Saturday night.

The event, hosted by "30 Rock's" Alec Baldwin, brought out an eclectic group joined by their love of animals, including honorees Anjelica Huston, "Glee's" Lea Michele, Eva Mendes, "Twilight's" Kellan Lutz and Christian Serratos, Dave Navarro and "Inglourious Basterds' " Eli Roth plus presenters Joaquin Phoenix, Casey Affleck, Abbie Cornish, Pamela Anderson, Iggy Pop, Jena Malone, "One Tree Hill's" Sophia Bush and a glittery Kelly Osbourne, showing off her new svelte self. (Click the pic of Michele, above, to launch a gallery of red carpet arrivals.)

And Charo. Si, Charo.

The refugee from "Laugh In," "The Love Boat" and other TV shows of the '70s resurfaced last year in "The Surreal Life," and she's been busy nudging Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero to ban bullfighting. The anti-bullfighting forces claimed their first headline-making victory a month ago, when Barcelona banned it.

PETA honored the Spanish-born entertainer for challenging her country's deadly cultural tradition by lobbying for the bulls instead of running with them (a pre-bullfight ritual). "I love animals," said Charo, whose adopted pet bull, Manolo, lives with her in Beverly Hills. "In my other life, I was a Chihuahua from Tijuana."

For honoree Huston, protecting animals is in the blood. She has spoken out against the entertainment industry's use of apes and chimps. And PETA's campaign has made strides in exacting pledges from numerous major companies –- including the Gap and Sprint -- not to use them in advertising.

As Huston explained, compassion for animals is a Huston family tradition. She told the black-tie crowd packing the Palladium that her late father, director John Huston, had a pet spider monkey, which he caged when he married his third wife, "Gone With the Wind" actress Evelyn Keyes. When they returned from their honeymoon, he said, "What do you say we let her out of the cage?"

Keyes demurred, but Huston insisted, saying, "She's missed me so much."

The monkey lunged out of the cage, dived into Keyes' lingerie drawer and destroyed its contents. "Then she leapt between them in bed and put her hairy arms around my father and turned her back to Evelyn," Huston said. "Evelyn said, ‘It's the monkey or me.' He said, 'I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to go with the monkey.' "

— Irene Lacher

Photo: Alec Baldwin and Cheryl Hines at PETA's 30th-anniversary gala. Credit: Jason Merritt /Getty Images.

Comments

[Joey]

Just think of all the good things that shelters and other organizations that actually rescue animals could have done with the money spent on this self-aggrandizing BS.

[Tahler]

Happy 30th birthday, PETA! Thanks for all you do to stop animal abuse around the world.

[Gaby C]

Just think of all the good things that shelters and other organizations that actually help HUMANS could have done with the money!

Look at deciever.com for the Hollywood PETA hypocracy.

[Tamme]

Good for you PETA! I hope you are around for 30 more. Animals need a voice and you are it.

[Belle]

"As Huston explained, compassion for animals is a Huston family tradition" Umm...(long pause) isn't it a very well known fact her father, John Huston, was a big-game hunter? So exactly how is that compassion for animals when you are killing innocent (minding their own business) elephants, lions, rhinos, etc in Africa?

I think PETA has done some good things but I also think they are bullies. How is throwing paint on someone who wears fur considered ethical? I find it funny when celebrities support PETA but wear leather shoes & carry $700 designer leather handbags and there are some celebrities who DO walk the talk: Joaquin Phoenix, Pam Anderson, Alicia Silverstone, Stella and Paul McCarthy.

[cdz from the ministry]

Christie D'Zurilla here from the blog with a reminder that in most cases this blog doesn't publish comments that include links.

// cdz

[David]

A bunch of self-absorbed Hollywood wack-jobs.

[PB]

I hope none of these people ever get sick. might as well put medical research back into the stone ages- oh wait leaches would probably fall under exploited creatures. Bunch of hypocrits.

[em]

I bet half of those celebrities are wearing leather shoes.

[Save the animals]

PETA is a terrorist organization, and as such should be treated accordingly.

[Bob]

What about the Grammy awards...They do NOTHING to help any cause and it cost a lot more then the Peta awards. The Grammy awards could use the money to support charities instead of wasting it for art!