Reese Witherspoon left many people shell-shocked when she was spotted carrying a reptile handbag. The Legally Blonde star's python-skin purse has been legally banned from being sold in California since 1970.

PETA immediately rushed Reese the video exposé that her Walk the Line co-star Joaquin Phoenix narrated, showing how reptiles used for clothing and accessories have their heads nailed to trees, are often skinned alive, and can languish for days before dying. Reese's camp instantly responded to us, saying that Reese was dismayed to learn that the bag was made of real snakeskin and promised never to carry it again.

Reese said that she was grateful for the information we had sent her, and we were so appreciative that she bagged the bag that we sent her flowers as a thank-you. It's good timing, too: Her upcoming movie This Means War co-stars Laura Vandervoort, who just shot a naked exotic-skins ad for PETA, so now those two can slink down the red carpet together rocking mock croc and fake snake. For a chance to win your own stylin' faux-snakeskin bag from Urban Expressions, click here!

Written by Michelle Sherrow

Our very own Pam Anderson has auctioned off her Dodge Viper. Why did she give up this super speedy racer? Because she cares more about real reptiles—and all other exotic animals whose skin is torn from their flesh for fashion. (Don't you love the alliteration bug that I caught today?) Pam has pledged to give the proceeds from the auction to PETA so that we can use the money to inform people who think that they might want a reptile-skin bag about how these amazing animals are treated when they're converted from captivating creatures to cruel clothing. (There I go again!)

Snake skin and alligator skin—heck, all animal skin—were designed for the original occupants' use only. Several thousand years of evolution went into making their scales and hides fit them beautifully—not some misguided fashionista who's going for the "I just got kicked off the island" look.

Posted by Sean Conner