The steak is a noble animal and why animal rights activist Pam Anderson is promoting the slaughter of such a fine beast goes beyond the pale.

From www.latimes.com- Maybe the recession is worse than we thought.

The current economic downward spiral and rising unemployment rate may have caused Pamela Anderson to sell her immortal soul or, at the very least, sacrifice her scruples.

The actress-model has posed naked for PETA’s “I’d rather go naked…” anti-fur campaign, and has been one of the animal rights group’s biggest celebrity spokespeople. She’s even spoken out on behalf of chickens!

Now Pam reportedly has been booked to open a gentlemen’s (read: strip) club-slash-steakhouse in NYC.

She and another apparently hard-up honey, “The Hills’ ” Audrina Patridge, will show up for the April 27 opening of a new gentlemen’s club named Sapphire New York, which Fox News says is part of Prime 333 Steakhouse on the Upper East Side.

According to the invite, the former “Baywatch” babe and “The Hills” hottie will be joined by former “Sopranos” star Steve Schirripa. He played Bobby “Bacala” Baccalieri) and, frankly, looks like he eats meat pretty consistently. Lindsay Lohan’s ex-girlfriend Samantha Ronson will spin the tunes. Guess that means Lindsay won’t be allowed in.

We can’t wait to see the PETA press release kicking Pam off the animal rights bandwagon.