Reese Witherspoon pledges to give up python-skin handbag

Reese Witherspoon is ditching her python-skin handbag after upsetting animal rights activists.

Officials at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) were outraged when photos of the actress carrying the cruel accessory surfaced earlier this week (beg31Oct11) - and they went public with their feelings.

Now Reese Witherspoon has responded by assuring PETA bosses she won't be snapped with the bag again.

Spokeswoman Wendy Wegner tells WENN, "PETA immediately rushed its video expose of the exotic-skins industry, hosted by her Walk the Line co-star Joaquin Phoenix, to Reese.

"The video describes how snakes and other reptiles are often skinned alive and how they suffer slow, painful deaths for the sake of fashion. Thankfully, Reese has just informed PETA that she will no longer carry the bag."

And PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange adds, "We've long known Reese to be a kind person, so we're pleased - and not surprised - that she is hanging up her python bag for good. We hope Reese's honest mistake will serve as a reminder for all of us to be extra-certain that what we're buying is mock crock or fake snake."

PETA is sending flowers to Reese as a thank you for her compassionate decision.