Ashley Benson Criticized for Instagramming a Cecil the Lion Halloween Costume

Can’t decide on my Halloween costume this year!

When the Pretty Little Liars star posted the photo Tuesday, she originally asked her 9.3 million followers what they thought.

After commenters questioned the sensitivity of the sexy ensemble, Benson re-uploaded the image with a new caption about “this lion costume”, omitting Cecil’s name.

We understand that Ashley was just trying to make a joke, but her comment definitely didn’t have the intended effect.

Actress Ashley posted a snap of herself wearing a “Cecil the lion” outfit, after the controversial and tragic shooting of an African lion by an American dentist who paid to kill him, earlier this year. “What do you guys think of this Cecil the lion costume?” the 25-year-old actress captioned the photo, according to users’ screengrabs.

She eventually changed the caption to read, “What do you guys think of this lion costume?” Yandy is attempting to spin the costume as a charity initiative, explaining, “20% of the proceeds of our limited-edition, Cecil the Lion costume will be given to a Global Conservation Organization to support global conservation initiatives”.

The lingerie site Yandy.com, where Benson bought her costume, actually markets the ensemble as a “Deluxe Lion” costume.