This HuffPost Canada page is maintained as part of an online archive.
StyleAshley Bensonashley benson cecil the lionashley benson cecil the lion costume

Ashley Benson Promotes A Cecil The Lion Halloween Costume On Instagram

They're roaring, all right.
Madelyn Chung
|

It may not be Halloween yet, but the celebrity costume faux pas have already started.

"Pretty Little Liars" star, Ashley Benson, upset her fans on Tuesday after posting a photo of herself on Instagram wearing a Cecil the Lion costume from Yandy.com.

The 25-year-old actress originally captioned the photo, "Help! Can't decide on my Halloween costume this year! What do you guys thing of this Cecil the Lion costume?", before removing the reference to the 13-year-old animal that made headlines this summer after he was killed in Zimbabwe by a Minnesota dentist.

Open Image Modal

Instagram users were quick to call the reference "offensive" and in "bad taste," with some even calling out Benson for changing her caption. One follower wrote, "you called it 'Cecil the Lion'’ #clueless #smh #insensitive," and another added, "It's a shame lions can't wear dead ignorant humans as costumes. Totally unaware douche."

The "Deluxe Lion" costume modelled by Ashley retails for $149.95, while another version actually called "Cecil the Lion" retails for $118.95. Yandy encourages buyers to "show your support for all wildlife," claiming 20 per cent of the proceeds from the costume will be given to a Global Conservation Organization to support global conservation initiatives.

And to make things worse, Yandy's PR supposedly sent a release alerting the media of Benson's post, noting the costume features "a cheeky cut back and a deluxe, faux-fur trimmed hood with lion ears."

Groan.

Follow Huffington Post Canada Style on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter!

Also on HuffPost

Stupid 'Sexy' Halloween Costumes
Killer Whale(01 of24)
Open Image Modal
Watch out, girl in a sexy seal costume! (credit:Imgur/Yandy)
Corn(02 of24)
Open Image Modal
Just ... what? Either you're a HUGE fan of corn, or you drew the shortest straw. Guessing the latter. (credit:Yandy)
Olaf From 'Frozen'(03 of24)
Open Image Modal
We can definitely let this one go. (credit:Imgur/Yandy)
Body Bag(04 of24)
Open Image Modal
Right. (credit:Imgur)
Bert(05 of24)
Open Image Modal
What would Ernie think? Wait, don't answer that. (credit:Imgur/Yandy)
More 'Sesame Street' Characters(06 of24)
Open Image Modal
A hairy blue monster from a children's show that eats nothing but cookies all day? SEXY. (credit:Popular Character Costumes)
'Biscuit Beast'(07 of24)
Open Image Modal
... Or if the REAL Cookie Monster is too sexy for you, there's always "Biscuit Beast." (credit:Imgur)
Crayons(08 of24)
Open Image Modal
Perhaps the person who thought this was a good idea ATE a lot of crayons as a child. That would make sense. (credit:Buy Costumes)
Sudoku(09 of24)
Open Image Modal
Okay, this is just numbers on a dress. (credit:Buy Costumes)
Taxi Driver(10 of24)
Open Image Modal
If you've seen a real taxi driver lately, chances are you don't fantasize about him wearing something like this. (credit:Spirit Halloween)
Real Estate Agent(11 of24)
Open Image Modal
She'll sell you a house, and then ... give you some papers to sign. (credit:eBay)
Medical Marijuana Dispenser(12 of24)
Open Image Modal
That's it! EVERY profession has to be sexy now. (credit:Yandy)
CSI Agent(13 of24)
Open Image Modal
Have you seen that show? The actors are already way hotter than any CSI in real life, so this just takes it even further. We can't see the benefit of wearing a skirt that high while collecting evidence. (credit:Costume Supercenter)
French Fries(14 of24)
Open Image Modal
Sorry, Freedom Fries costume. (credit:Yandy)
Pizza(15 of24)
Open Image Modal
You're gonna get a lot of "toppings" jokes, just forewarning. (credit:Yandy)
Nun(16 of24)
Open Image Modal
Ah, love the Biblically accurate high heels. (credit:ForeplayCatalog.com)
Skittles(17 of24)
Open Image Modal
Dress the rainbow. (credit:Buy Costumes)
Grateful Dead Bear(18 of24)
Open Image Modal
Everything the Dead were all about probably. (credit:Buy Costumes)
Waldo(19 of24)
Open Image Modal
You didn't have to make it sexy for us to find you. (credit:Buy Costumes)
Wednesday from 'The Addams Family'(20 of24)
Open Image Modal
Let's try to remember when we think up these "sexy" costumes, it's best if the character they're modeled after isn't an underage girl. (credit:Buy Costumes)
Peasant(21 of24)
Open Image Modal
Oh come on, what peasant in the history of peasantry has EVER looked like that? (credit:Halloween Express)
Miss Scissorhands(22 of24)
Open Image Modal
Yeah, disfigured mechanical scissor hands... SEXY. (credit:Halloween Express)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles(23 of24)
Open Image Modal
They couldn't be this sexy if they really lived in a sewer, ate nothing but pizza, and took orders from a giant rat. (credit: Yandy)
Brian from 'Family Guy'(24 of24)
Open Image Modal
Oh yeah. They went there. (credit:Buy Costumes)

Related

Ashley Bensonashley benson cecil the lionashley benson cecil the lion costumeashley benson cecil the lion halloween costumeashley benson halloween costume
Suggest a correction
-- This HuffPost Canada page is maintained as part of an online archive. If you have questions or concerns, please check our FAQ or contact support@huffpost.com.