Influencer Sophia Begg in hot water after dressing as the stingray that killed Steve Irwin

A young influencer has apologized after dividing social media users with her decision to dress up as the stingray that killed Steve Irwin for an Australian-themed costume party.

Sophia Begg shared in a since-removed TikTok on Wednesday that the stingray onesie she was wearing was for “an Aussie dress-up party in a duo costume.”

“They’re going as Steve Irwin and I’m going as a stingray,” the 19-year-old explained in the comments after one viewer wrote: “Steve Erwin (sic) could never.”

The late ‘Crocodile Hunter’ was killed on September 4, 2006, when he was pierced in the chest by a stingray barb at Queensland’s Batt Reef.

After saying that she loved Irwin and “would never want to offend his family/loved ones”, Begg apologized in a short text video on TikTok.

“Hi guys, I just wanted to jump on here to clear up some things,” she wrote.

“I love Steve Irwin and would never want to cause disrespect to his family or legacy. He is an iconic Aussie and no offence was meant by my costume.

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“I have thought about and reflected on my costume, and I will not be wearing it, and apologize wholeheartedly to anyone who was offended by it, that was definitely not my intention.

“I apologize sincerely.”

Fans were split over whether Begg’s costume was “fine and funny” or “disrespectful and offensive” to Irwin’s family.

“Oh lighten up. It’s been 20 years,” one social media user wrote.

“Not the people getting offended over a stingray,” a second commented.

While another said: “I think it’s funny and I loved Steve Irwin. Life’s too short to take seriously.”

“I feel like Steve would have laughed at this,” someone else added.

People were quick to point out, though, that it would’ve been far less “disrespectful” had Begg “dressed as a crocodile.”

“Disrespectful. She could have gone as a crocodile. This is just in poor 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 mocking how an Aussie icon died, leaving his wife and kids behind.”

“I’d just ask myself one question. Would I wear this in front of [Irwin’s kids] Bindi and Robert? No. That’s a huge no,” another agreed.

While one person pointed out it’s unlikely Begg had “any ill intent … she should have chosen another costume.”

“I think it’s just in really bad taste. I think Steve Irwin would have been a bit before her time but for a lot of us ‘older’ Australians, he was an absolute icon and I think it would be upsetting for his wife and children.”

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