Celebs Take to Social Media to Express Outrage Over Death of Cecil the Lion
A host of the celebs have expressed their anger at Walter Palmer, the American man who killed the lion
Dr. Walter J. Palmer, the Minnesota dentist who admitted to killing Cecil the lion during a hunting trip to Zimbabwe, has become a hot topic of conversation on social media.
On Tuesday, Palmer issued a statement saying he regrets killing Cecil and that he blames his guides for allowing the lion’s death to occur.
“I had no idea that the lion I took was a known, local favorite, was collared and part of a study until the end of the hunt. I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt.”
That statement did little to quiet the debate around the incident, however. At this point, most readers have probably seen more than one person using social media to weigh in on the ethics of Cecil’s death or game hunting in general. Animal rights-minded celebs are sharing their thoughts on the matter as well.
That statement did little to quiet the debate around the incident, however. At this point, most readers have probably seen more than one person using social media to weigh in on the ethics of Cecil’s death or game hunting in general. Animal rights-minded celebs are sharing their thoughts on the matter as well.
In a Tweet on Tuesday, Sharon Osbourne did not hold back her contempt for the hunter.
Cara Delevingne simply denounced the hunter as a “poor excuse of a human being.”
Model Candice Swanepoel posted to Instagram, saying that as a South African, she opposed people traveling to Africa to hunt its animals.
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In her own Instagram post, Namibian-born model Behati Prinsloo asked Palmer to stay out of Africa.
Amy Poehler simply remembered Cecil with a photo.
Ricky Gervais, who has previously spoken out against game hunting, characterized the act as one that stemmed simply from “the thrill of killing.”
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump said killing Cecil was an act of cowardice.
Debra Messing said she was “ashamed and horrified” by the act.
The Vampire Diaries star Paul Wesley voiced his objection to killing not just a famous animal but any animal.
And author Joyce Carol Oates questioned the motives of the people who removed the GPS collar Cecil was wearing as part of an Oxford University research project.