Figure skater Johnny Weir extols the virtues of his fur-filled closet in Bluefly.com video

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We’re always flummoxed when we hear a fur-wearer unapologetically sing the praises of wearing animal pelts as fashion statements.

We couldn’t exactly say we were surprised, though, when figure skater Johnny Weir, who has infuriated animal lovers in the past with his furry skating costumes, did just that in a new ‘Closet Confessions’ video for the clothing site Bluefly.com.

In the video, Weir describes his fur- and python-filled closet as ‘a constant swirl of happiness and movement’ and doesn’t bat an eye as he describes with glee his ‘fur tree’ filled with lynx, fox and other animal pelts. (We have to admit, though, that the man knows how to pick a nice-looking bag.)

Weir said during an earlier controversy about his fur-wearing that ‘I totally get the dirtiness of the fur industry and how terrible it is to animals. But it’s not something that’s the No. 1 priority in my life ... There are humans dying every day. There are thousands if not millions of homeless people in New York City. Look at what just happened in Haiti. I tend to focus my energy, if there is a cause, on humans. While that may be callous and bad of me, it’s my choice.’

We’d love to hear what philanthropic work the skating star is doing on behalf of New York’s homeless population and the residents of Haiti -- no, really, we would. We’re sure we’re not alone among animal-lovers in our tendency to be irked when people who aren’t terribly troubled by animal abuse throw out a red-herring argument that suggests one must choose between caring about people or caring about animals. Can’t it be both?

Perhaps Weir would be interested in donating some of those nice, warm fur coats to the homeless this winter? Failing that, we’re sure he could benefit from a consultation with animal-friendly fashion expert Tim Gunn, who earned our undying love last year when he told our colleague Patt Morrison, ‘There’s no reason to kill animals for fur. Wearing fur is like wearing a big sign reading, ‘I’m in favor of inflicting cruelty and pain on animals as a fashion statement.’ ‘

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-- Lindsay Barnett

Video: Bluefly.com