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.
I hope that #WalterPalmer loses his home, his practice & his money. He has already lost his soul…
Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) July 28, 2015
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Cara Delevingne simply denounced the hunter as a “poor excuse of a human being.”
This #WalterPalmer is a poor excuse of a human being!
Cara Delevingne (@Caradelevingne) July 28, 2015
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Model Candice Swanepoel posted to Instagram, saying that as a South African, she opposed people traveling to Africa to hunt its animals.
A photo posted by Candice Swanepoel (@angelcandices) on Jul 28, 2015 at 3:39pm PDT
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In her own Instagram post, Namibian-born model Behati Prinsloo asked Palmer to stay out of Africa.
A photo posted by Behati Prinsloo Levine (@behatiprinsloo) on Jul 28, 2015 at 9:57am PDT
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Amy Poehler simply remembered Cecil with a photo.
Goodbye, #CecilTheLion. Your roar will be remembered worldwide pic.twitter.com/NnqTLffBfD
AmyPoehlerSmartGirls (@smrtgrls) July 28, 2015
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Ricky Gervais, who has previously spoken out against game hunting, characterized the act as one that stemmed simply from “the thrill of killing.”
It’s not for food. It’s not the shooting, or tin cans would do. It must just be the thrill of killing. Mental. http://t.co/0fjtXoC1ML
Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) July 28, 2015
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Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump said killing Cecil was an act of cowardice.
What an excellent example of evil cowardice as Dr Walter Palmer beheads that majestic creature. That title “Dr” should be revoked.
Lisa Vanderpump (@LisaVanderpump) July 28, 2015
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Debra Messing said she was “ashamed and horrified” by the act.
SHAME ON HIM! I want them to take his citizenship away. I’m ashamed and horrified by what he did. #CecilTheLion https://t.co/SGRwiOi0UK
Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) July 28, 2015
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The Vampire Diaries star Paul Wesley voiced his objection to killing not just a famous animal but any animal.
Famous or not, why would any sane and decent person opt to kill such a beautiful animal? http://t.co/uOxZfC6Qlm?
Paul Wesley (@paulwesley) July 28, 2015
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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.
Cecil the murdered lion was even wearing a collar…which the illegal hunters/ poachers tried to remove. What story will they concoct?
Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) July 28, 2015