PETA makes peace with Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart may have been sentenced to five months in prison — but she’s been pardoned by an animal-rights group.

Earlier this year, the how-to diva was named one of the world’s worst-dressed celebrities by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. “Martha may not get the electric chair, but the same can’t be said for the chinchillas who were genitally electrocuted just so she could wear a frumpy scarf on the day of her conviction,” the group had said. Stewart’s furry scarf actually set off a fad, and furriers reported customers telling them they “had to have” a chinchilla scarf like Stewart wore.

But in her recent interview with Barbara Walters, Stewart said the chinchilla was fake. “That was faux fur,” Stewart said. “My daughter doesn’t allow me to wear fur, Barbara. We don’t wear fur. Maligned, maligned, maligned. Soft and cuddly, that’s all it was.”

A PETA spokesman says that the group attempted to confirm whether the fur was real, but their calls weren’t returned. “Even though the evidence came in late, we’re willing to overturn our verdict on Martha,” the spokesman tells The Scoop.

PETA has removed Stewart from its worst-dressed list, and has even sent her a letter, apologizing. Well, almost apologizing. “We’re writing today to say we’ve taken you off the worst-dressed list,” PETA president Ingrid Newkirk wrote to Stewart, “and are advising our members that you, like your vegetarian daughter, believe that fur looks best on its original owner.”

Ronstadt's sour note

Osamu Honda / AP file

Linda Ronstadt’s Las Vegas concert hit a sour note with some fans, but it turns out that her off-key performance may have been the result of an inner-ear infection.

Ronstadt made headlines when she was booted from the Aladdin Theater Saturday after making pro-Michael Moore comments. Some accounts actually suggested that the singer gave a controversial and sub-par performance because she wanted to get out of her gig. “Ronstadt lopped off about 20 minutes from the show, walking away from an encore portion of the concert,” according to the Las Vegas Sun. “The incident capped a generally lackluster, unenthusiastic performance by one of the top singers of the ‘70s and ‘80s.”

“All I know is that [Ronstadt]’s not feeling well,” the singer’s assistant told The Scoop when first called for comment on the incident. “She’s having a hard time hearing. I called the doctor, but it’s nothing serious. She’ll be fine.” The assistant called back to say she’d have no comment on the Vegas concert, but corrected herself regarding Ronstadt’s medical condition. “She’s hearing fine. I made a doctor’s appointment because she has an inner-ear infection — that’s all, but her hearing is fine.”

Notes from all over
The chemistry between Billy Crudup and Claire Danes is said to be explosive in “Stage Beauty,” say those who’ve seen the pic.  . . .  A much cooler reception from some who’ve seen early screenings of “Catwoman.” The early buzz on the Halle Berry flick is that it has a real shot at becoming a camp classic.  . . . Britney Spears and kid sis Jamie Lynn each have new puppies, which they’ve named Allie Boo and Lacy Loo.

Jeannette Walls Delivers the Scoop Mondays through Thursdays on MSNBC.com

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