Tweets of the Week: #CecilTheLion Inspires Outrage, Activism

This week, the death of Cecil the Lion, a world-famous lion living at Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, shocked the world, and outrage over his killing at the hands of poachers spread throughout Twitter, inspiring 670,000 Tweets in just 24 hours. 

Animal rights groups like PETA and The Humane Society used the death of Cecil to raise awareness of poaching. 

#CecilTheLion suffered & died because of humans. Lions at #RinglingBros shouldn’t have to either. #JusticeForAllLions pic.twitter.com/iG6Bd8TQ7T

— PETA (@peta) July 30, 2015

In #CecilTheLion‘s honor, urge @USFWS to provide necessary protections for African #lions: http://t.co/ixeChZKDlf pic.twitter.com/rTqlBM4lDi

— Humane Society (@HumaneSociety) July 29, 2015

Even celebrities took to Twitter to condemn Walter Palmer, the American dentist accused of killing Cecil.

#WalterPalmer is Satan. I don’t know how anyone could go to this man for dental services after this. He is a killer. Beware!

— Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) July 28, 2015

While Cecil’s death began the week on a sad note, iconic Canadian brand Kraft Dinner was able to lighten the mood. Kraft Dinner publicly changed to its nickname, KD, by partnering with music mogul Kardinal Offishall, who also changed his name to KD for 24 hours to support the brand. 

You may recognize our new name from what you’ve always called us. #KDisnowKD pic.twitter.com/3nyP6S5MQh

— KD (@kraftdinner) July 30, 2015

.@KardinalO is in the house! Well, the kitchen. #KDisnowKD pic.twitter.com/V1Lm2M0buW

— KD (@kraftdinner) July 30, 2015

#FriendshipDay finished out the week, and the most successful brands were those that used videos and emojis to tell friendship stories.

You’re the Honey Mustard to my Waffle Fry.