The Internet isn't holding back reactions over the killing of Cecil the Lion [1] (the favorite face of Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park) and especially over the dentist responsible for the tragedy. The 13-year-old lion who established a name among tourists was lured away from legal grounds at night, and then shot with a bow and arrow, only to suffer for nearly two days before being killed, skinned, and beheaded. Walter Palmer, the Minnesota-based dentist who allegedly paid $55,000 for the ultimate "prize," now says he regrets killing the lion [2] although he believes he did so legally.
Consequently, users have been attacking Palmer all over social media. Even Yelp is rushing to clean up the ever-growing negative reviews on his page [3].
Ahead, see the top Twitter reactions that tell us how people, including celebs, really feel about the situation.
Goodbye, #CecilTheLion [4]. Your roar will be remembered worldwide pic.twitter.com/NnqTLffBfD [5]
— AmyPoehlerSmartGirls (@smrtgrls) July 28, 2015 [6]
RIP #CecilTheLion [7]
I'm struggling to imagine anything more beautiful than this
pic.twitter.com/lile3Kb2dk [8]
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) July 28, 2015 [9]
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 [10]
News about #CecilTheLion [11] is breaking my heart. How is big game hunting still even legal in this day & age? We are the worst species ever.
— Klassy P. Goldberg (@klassy) July 28, 2015 [12]
I'll call hunting a "sport" when the animals get to carry weapons, too. Until then, it's just cowardice.
#CecilTheLion [13]
— Charles Clymer (@cmclymer) July 28, 2015 [14]
#WalterPalmer [15] may this beautiful face haunt you for the rest of your miserable life RIP #CecilTheLion [16]pic.twitter.com/G2HXJDkc14 [17]
— Martine Collins (@Scattie00) July 28, 2015 [18]
If someone kills a lion for sport, he should be judged by a group of the dead lion's peers in a pit with no way out.
#CecilTheLion [19]
— Anne Wheaton (@AnneWheaton) July 28, 2015 [20]
Few things are less manly than paying thousands of $$$ to go to a gated reserve to shoot a lion. How small is your dick bro? #CecilTheLion [21]
— Matt Heiniger (@HeinigeronSport) July 28, 2015 [22]
Lion #Cecil [23] you remain the king of Zimbabwe.
Hunter you remain the nothing.
My love to you, big being
pic.twitter.com/miq36jyMqH [24]
— ⋆ᴍᴇʟᴋᴀ⋆ (@melka_mc) July 27, 2015 [25]
Awful news.Only a psychopath can kill just for fun.The person who killed Cecil deserves the worst punishment for what he did.#Cecil [26] #Lion [27]
— Ana Lucia Rivera (@Fierita166) July 27, 2015 [28]
RIP #Cecil [29] the lion. Some asshole on an obscene power trip.This world is screwed.So angry&disgusted #BANtrophyhunting [30] http://t.co/PdiMfG7M9o [31]
— Janine ツ (@iam_janine) July 23, 2015 [32]
Just once, I'd like to see a big game animal maul a hunter, then post a selfie. #CecilTheLion [33]
— Nick (@angry_eyebrowz) July 28, 2015 [34]
To the *man* who is said to have killed #CecilTheLion [35] Couldn't you just have got an enlargement? Or a sports car? #YouSadPatheticGit [36]
— F Eckersall (@HerFaithness) July 28, 2015 [37]
Congratulations River Bluff Dental and Dr. Walter Palmer, DDS. You're now more despised than Donald Trump. #CecilTheLion [38]
— chris joseph (@sauceruney) July 28, 2015 [39]
#CeciltheLion [40] You disgusting piece of trophy hunting trash, may you rot from the inside slowly. You are a scumbag pic.twitter.com/0leddoYq1G [41]
— Belle (@BelleDodosmom) July 28, 2015 [42]