By: Jonathan Carey

SeaWorld: Animalistic PR Crisis

Seaworld has quickly become a sinking theme park, with publicity and PR slowly
gasping for air. What once became a promotional packaged trip featured in Nickelodeon
(Legends of the Hidden Temple, Family Double Dare) has become a sea park scrambling to keep
afloat. In a latest article by LA Times, California proposed a bill banning orcas from performing
at all SeaWorld locations. If all goes well, our friend Shamu could be set free in the Pacific
Ocean.
Our controversy all started with Dogwoofs release of Blackfish. Released in July 19th
2013, Blackfish took viewers into hidden truths of SeaWorlds operation. From the inhuman
capturing of whales in Australia to captured videos of an animal freak show, this emotional
documentary turned the heads of SeaWorld fans. Fans of SeaWorld gasped at the horrors of the
tragic history whales and human trainers. In a PR sense, humans were manipulated of false facts
of a killer whales lifespan and how killer whales carry a large heart. Blackfish broke the barriers
of fabricated facts about killer whales. For instance, the claimed lifespan of the whales is 30 for
males and 50 for females. What we dont know is that killer whales live much longer in the wild
than while being captive, cutting the average lifespan. Like cigarettes cutting out a humans
lifespan, captivity chains whales into a glass box they struggle to escape. Killer whales contain
similar emotional responses as high as human beings. We have much to learn of our blackfish
friends, swimming in the Pacific Ocean. Captivity and dressing up like circus freaks only push
us farther into ignorance.

Other than raking over $2 million in the box office, Blackfish raked in positive influences
for celebrities alike. 14 bands have cancelled their gig at SeaWorld Park after learning of the
barbaric treatment of the orcas. From Willie Nelson to REO Speedwagon, conscientious
musicians protest from viewing the popular documentary. A twitter post from Heart remarked
their initial decline of an upcoming performance at Seaworld that wouldve been on February 9th.
In a private letter to SeaWorld, Joan Jett asked the company to cease the use of I Love Rock N
Roll as entrance music for Shamus rock shows. She felt sickened that her famous tune was
being blasted without her permission. As well as musicians, celebrities flood twitter with
awareness of Dogwoofs jaw-dropping documentary. Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul urged his
fans to watch the film, calling it:
most heartbreaking doc on the enslavement of Orca whales
at #SeaWorld on #Netflix. Everyone should see this. So sad. #BlackFish.

Among famous Blackfish tweeters include Ellen Page, Russell Brand, Zach Braff, Ewan
McGregor, and Stephen Fry. Celebrities/Musicians are blowing SeaWorld out of water through
the use of social media. Our information received by our para-social friends has given us a
second thought to attending SeaWorld these days.

Its official that SeaWorld has become a fish out of water. Like a fish flip-flopping near
the bowl, SeaWorld flops through media outlets to save itself. SeaWorld took ads in U.S.
newspapers, defending itself from backlashing PR aimed from celebrities. Current/former
trainers are publicly speaking out of the project; thus, working to salvage SeaWorlds sinking
reputation. Current SeaWorld trainer Holly Byrd replied Blackfish is misleading viewers
through video footage, skewering images. Former trainers fight for their intended speeches,
saying the controversial documentary led audiences through unintended ideas. With that,

SeaWorld fights a long battle amongst the general public. SeaWorlds Tilikum and Shamu stare
aimlessly at the glass as they watch their fellow human battle it out in this Sea Park Soap Opera.
All our bickering and claims have led up to a proposed bill. Citizens of California
proposed a bill that would ban SeaWorld orca shows. Within a year, a controversial
documentary turned a STATE to consider banning orca shows in SeaWorld locations in San
Diego. San Diego folks have felt the brunt shame in orcas captive in a tiny fish bowl. What
turned into an oppositional social media PR campaign became a life-changing issue for
SeaWorld shows in California. In a few years, Shamu and Tilikum could swim the crystal clear
shores of the Pacific, trotting away from SeaWorld. On a side note, other animal performers
such as sea otters are not affected in the proposal. That being said, this scolding effect could
spark SeaWorlds reputation and think differently to attract publicity. SeaWorld may have to
jump ship to salvage a company lacking publicity and audiences.
What we have learned through this journey is the powerful effect documentaries can do
to a reputation. Blackfish sparked notorious tweets from celebrities/musicians and created a
strategic war of truth. SeaWorld may not have fully lost, but it brings into question what kind of
future holds for the company. If no lesson has been learned through the inhuman treatments of
the blackfish friends, SeaWorld could see more animals let free into the wild. Less of our
mammals could be put on the spotlight, balancing that beach ball on their noses. After human
freak shows, animal shows could become a thing of the past. SeaWorld is the light being shed,
pushing humans off from caging wild animals.

Image Source: http://sandiegofreepress.org/wpcontent/uploads/2012/10/seaworld.jpg

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