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PETA responds to ‘Cecil the lion killer’ Halloween costume with its own alternative

PETS had a quick response to the "Cecil the lion Killer" costume (L).

It all began last week, when a company called costumeish.com unveiled the “Cecil the Lion Killer” Halloween costume. As you can imagine, a costume featuring a blood-spattered dental coat and a severed lion’s head really didn’t sit well with the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and for good reason.

Back in July, an American dentist named Walter Palmer became the latest victim of public shaming after killing Cecil, Zimbabwe’s beloved lion and a popular attraction for wildlife tourists. Moral condemnation quickly swept every corner of the Internet, prompting the UN to unanimously adopt a resolution to combat illegal wildlife trafficking.

But in today’s trend of trying to make a joke of tragic events, the “Cecil the Lion Killer” costume was almost inevitable. So in response to the tasteless idea, the good folks at PETA have created their own alternative entitled “Cecil’s Revenge.”

“Halloween aficionados can turn the table on trophy hunters’ ghoulish pastime with PETA’s new pro-Cecil costume,” PETA president, Ingrid Newkirk, said in a news release. “As animals continue to die in agony at the hands of trophy hunters, it’s only fitting for people to make fun of Palmer for his illegal, violent pursuit.”

The ensemble features a stuffed lion mauling a dentist, complete with a name tag that reads: “Dr. Palmer.”

“Nasty little people try to make themselves feel good by killing wild animals who are minding their own business, so we at PETA think it most fitting that people make fun of the dentist for his sick, illegal pursuit by fashioning a hideous Halloween costume after him, as they would after Freddy Krueger or Jason,” Newkirk told the Huffington Post.

Cecil’s Revenge retails for $139.99 and all profits will go towards PETA’s lifesaving work for animals. They are encouraging people to join the fight to get lions listed as threatened.