A young influencer has apologized after dividing social media users over her decision to dress up as the stingray that killed Steve Irwin for an Australian-themed costume party.
Sophia Begg shared in a since-deleted TikTok on Wednesday that the stingray onesie she wore was for “an Aussie costume party in a duo costume.”
“They go like Steve Irwin and I go like a stingray,” the 19-year-old explained in the comments after one viewer wrote, “Steve Erwin (sic) could never do that.”
The late ‘Crocodile Hunter’ was killed on September 4, 2006, when he was gored in the chest by a stingray at Batt Reef in Queensland.
After saying she loved Irwin and would “never want to offend his family/loved ones,” Begg apologized in a short text video posted on TikTok.
“Hi guys, just wanted to jump in on this to clear some things up,” she wrote.
“I love Steve Irwin and would never want to disrespect his family or legacy. He’s an iconic Aussie and my costume wasn’t meant to offend.
“I’ve thought and thought about my costume, and I won’t be wearing it, and I sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by it, that was definitely not my intention.
“My sincere apologies.”
Fans were divided on whether Begg’s costume was “fine and funny” or “disrespectful and offensive” to Irwin’s family.
“Ah, enlightened. It’s been 20 years,” one social media user wrote.
“Not the people who take offense at a stingray,” a second commented.
While another added: “I think it’s funny and I loved Steve Irwin. Life is too short to take seriously.”
“I feel like Steve would have laughed at this,” someone else added.
However, people were quick to point out that it would have been much less “disrespectful” if Begg was “dressed up like a crocodile.”
“Disrespectful. She could have gone like a crocodile. This is just bad taste,” one woman said after the post was shared by the influencer watchdog account @influencer.updates.au.
“There’s dark humor and then there’s mockery of how an Aussie icon died and left behind his wife and children.”
“I would like to ask myself one question. Would I wear this [Irwin’s kids] Bindi and Robert? No. That’s a huge no,” agreed another.
While one person pointed out that it’s unlikely that Begg had “bad intentions… she should have chosen a different costume.”
“I think it’s just really bad in taste. I think Steve Irwin would have been a little ahead of her time, but to many of us ‘older’ Australians he was an absolute icon and I think it would have upset his wife and children.
