'What if I killed your pet cat?' Piers Morgan infuriates an unapologetic 12-year-old trophy hunter by asking how SHE would feel to lose an animal she loved

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Piers Morgan challenged an unapologetic 12-year-old trophy hunter live on TV by asking her how she would feel if he killed her pet cat and 'celebrated' the slaughter.

Aryanna Gourdin, who is from Utah, sparked outrage last week when she posted boastful pictures on Facebook of a giraffe, zebra and wildebeest that she had killed on African safari.

But the schoolgirl was today put on the spot by a fired-up Mr Morgan, who repeatedly quizzed Aryanna on how she would react to her own cat being killed. 

Piers Morgan challenged 12-year-old trophy hunter Aryanna Gourdin today (pictured) by asking her how she would feel if he killed her pet cat and 'celebrated' the slaughter

The schoolgirl was put on the spot by a fired-up Mr Morgan (left), who repeatedly quizzed Aryanna on how she would react to her own cat being killed

The girl - who was wearing a 'Stand Up to Anti-Hunting bullying' t-shirts - was visibly thrown off guard and stammered as her father Eli (right) answered in her place

Looking exasperated at her lack of remorse as she appeared on Good Morning Britain, the presenter asked her how she would feel if the tables were turned.

He said: 'How would you feel if I came to your house one day and I hunted down your pet cat and I killed it and I then posted pictures of me celebrating the slaughter of your pet cat?'

The girl - who was wearing a 'Stand Up to Anti-Hunting bullying' t-shirts - was visibly thrown off guard and stammered as her father answered in her place.

She then added: 'What... I'm not allowed a pet because I hunt?'

After asking the same question again, Mr Morgan told Aryanna there was a conflict between photographs that she posts of slain animals and those of her pet cat.

Mr Gourdin then replied on behalf of his daughter: 'I think that's a trick question. That would be your choice because I've never killed a pet and most hunters don't kill pets.'

He added: 'A giraffe's not a pet. We would never think to go out and kill somebody's pet.'

The outrage started last week, after Aryanna started posting pictures from her hunting trip to South Africa - including this picture of a giraffe she killed (pictured) - with her father

She also spoke about the series of death threats she's received, saying it was 'upsetting' that some people valued an animal's life over another person's. She is pictured left with a wildebeest and right with a giraffe 

 During her appearance, the hunter also insisted she felt remorseful for killing the animal - but that she enjoyed it too much to stop. She is pictured with a dead zebra

Viewers appeared to be in support of Mr Morgan,  with several bombarding the schoolgirl with vile messages.

One viewer wrote: 'The only possible positive to the #trophyhunter interview on @GMB would be if someone shot them both in the head right now. #aryannagourdin,'

Another wrote: 'That 12 year old trophy hunter needs to be locked up before she kills a human… #GMB.'

Another tweeted: 'That 12 year old trophy hunter and her dad are insane.'   

'I would never back down from hunting. I am a hunter and no matter what people say to me, I'm never going to stop,' Aryanna said

She told Mr Morgan: 'It won't stop me hunting. I will always hunt. It's something that thousands of people do and it's never going to stop' 

The tense exchange ended the interview, with Mr Morgan adding: 'I'm sure they wouldn't kill a pet but if they did they would do it with remorse.'

During her appearance, the hunter also insisted she felt remorseful for killing the animal - but that she enjoyed it too much to stop.

'I like hunting because it's something that's been in my family a long time,' she explained. 'And I really enjoy the taste of the meat we kill.' 

She also spoke about the series of death threats she's received, saying it was 'upsetting' that some people valued an animal's life over another person's.

The schoolgirl is pictured holding up a shotgun and triumphantly posing next to a dead giraffe

'I try to ignore most of the comments I get but I do read some by accident. I just try to not let them get to me,' she said. 

'It won't stop me hunting. I will always hunt. It's something that thousands of people do and it's never going to stop.'

Aryanna insisted the backlash would not make her give up the hobby she loves

The father and daughter have been going on hunts together since Aryanna was aged seven.

But she was thrown into the spotlight when she posted pictures of her most recent safari in South Africa, which she called a 'dream hunt'. 

After posing with the dead animals, some people insisted she was a 'murderer'. Another comment said: 'literally hope someone skins you'. 

But her father later defended the hobby, saying the  giraffe his daughter killed was actually a 'problem' animal area, 'eating up valuable resources other giraffes need to survive'. 

He also said the meat killed during their hunt will go to feet 800 orphans in the local area.

Aryanna also insisted the backlash would not make her give up the hobby she loves.

'It's something I cherish and enjoy and I want other people to see what I experienced,' she said.

'I would never back down from hunting. I am a hunter and no matter what people say to me, I'm never going to stop.'