A popular influencer has been dropped by a major beauty brand after admitting to killing two cats as a child.
Emma Claiir, 28, revealed how her childhood pet died from fright after she swung it round "thinking it was just a stuffed toy".
The mum-of-one laughed awkwardly as she shared the story on the Simply Chaotic podcast and confessed she had killed her friend's cat too.
Her sponsorship deal with skincare brand MCoBeauty was cut short soon after the bizarre reveal.
Emma apologised for her comments this week and said she was "deeply sorry".
But MCoBeauty confirmed it would no longer be working with the Australian influencer in the future.
During the episode, Emma said: "I killed my cat... My sister didn't speak to me for months and my mum was fuming at me. I killed it.
"I was swinging my cat around. I was thinking it was just a stuffed toy and I accidentally let go of it."
If that did not horrify listeners, she went on to say "if you really want to know more about me, I also killed my best friend's cat."
Listeners quickly hit out against Emma's comments and she explained it was "a bit of light humour," Australia’s News.com reports.
In a statement that has now expired, she told her 106,000 Instagram followers: "To the people offended by my story in today’s simplychaotic episode that I just shared, it happened 21 years ago.
"I was a small child. Accidents happen and you all need to chill."
She continued: "I hope that you are not the same person you were at nine years old and I can confirm that after that accident, I have been the mother both to multiple cats including my baby Fred.
"It’s a bit of light humour in a get to know us episode and if you can’t handle that then simply chaotic ain’t for you. So byeee."
MCoBeauty soon spotted Emma's comments and confirmed it had severed its ties with the podcaster and model.
In a statement on Instagram, the beauty brand said: "It has come to our attention that Emma Claiir recently relayed a story on her podcast discussing an incident of animal cruelty from her childhood.
"We were dismayed by this story and will no longer be working with Emma in future.
"Here at MCoBeauty, we take instances like this extremely seriously and do not condone animal cruelty of any kind.
"Thank you to all of those who have taken the time to bring this situation to our attention."
After the backlash, Emma shared a second apology that appeared much more heartfelt and accepted that her comments were "not light humour" but in fact very serious.
"It was not intended to come across the way that it did," she explained.
"It was simply just a story from the past about an accident that was made as a little kid but I can see how it has come across like that.
"I have taken time to think about my actions and want to confirm that I do have empathy about the situation and it’s not something I am proud of as it really hurt myself and my family 21 years ago.
"I am a loving person to all things living and have since been the most amazing cat mum to multiple cats and dogs.
"I am now also a loving mum to a little boy and have definitely grown up from that little nine-year-old kid.
"Again, I deeply apologise for those effected [sic] by an accident that happened in the past and I hope we can leave it there."
