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[Closed] 'Blackfish' Backlash: Fan Pressure Leads Willie Nelson to Cancel SeaWorld Concert

Alana33 · 2013-12-08T17:03:01Z

Read entire article:Country music legend and animal welfare activist Willie Nelson has canceled his performance at SeaWorld Orlando’s Bands, Brew & BBQ Fest, which Nelson and his group were to kick off on Feb. 1, 2014. Nelson confirmed the cancellation Friday afternoon during a live telephone interview with Brooke Baldwin on CNN—marking the second musical act to recently back out of entertainment engagements at one of its aquarium parks. Despite SeaWorld’s claim of a “scheduling conflict,” Nelson said that it was his friends and fans who led him to the cancellation. “I had a lot of calls from people asking me to cancel, and I understand there’s petitions going around, and you know, I just had to cancel,” Nelson told Baldwin. Even his own great-granddaughter gathered 250 signatures from “people she knew asking me not to play the venue,” he said. “And also, I don’t agree with the way they treat their animals, so it wasn’t that hard a deal to just cancel.” related SeaWorld did not return email or telephone requests for comment. Sources tell me that a quiet, behind-the-scenes effort was undertaken to reach out to Nelson with information on killer whales in captivity, especially in light of Barenaked Ladies’ cancellation last week and the October premiere on CNN of the anti-captivity documentary Blackfish. The popular Canadian group canceled its Feb. 15 gig at SeaWorld after drummer Tyler Stewart watched Blackfish and was reportedly rattled by what he saw. "We've talked things over and decided not to play at SeaWorld at this time," the band wrote on its Facebook page. "This is a complicated issue, and we don't claim to understand all of it, but we don't feel comfortable proceeding with the gig at this time. The SeaWorld folks have been gracious and extended us invitations to the park to learn more about what they do, and how they do it. It's not about money, or petitions, or press…but it is about our fans. We listen to them, and they're important to us." The cancellation of two marquee acts is just one more blow to SeaWorld, which, it is fair to say, has had better years. Attendance in the first nine months was down by 1 million visitors compared with the same period last year. Then there was the robust reaction to Blackfish. According to Nielsen fast national data, among the youngest viewers (ages 18–34), CNN wiped out the competition on the day the documentary premiered, with 471,000 people in this group tuning in—more than eight times the combined number for Fox (31,000) and MSNBC (25,000). Online activity was also vigorous. “Blackfish ranked #1 in page views among all CNN films this year,” according to the press release. "I am thrilled that yet another world-famous, socially conscious artist has chosen to cancel his SeaWorld performance,” says Samantha Berg, a former SeaWorld trainer featured in Blackfish. “Mr. Nelson's decision sends a powerful message that the exploitation of whales and dolphins for human entertainment is unacceptable and that it's time for SeaWorld and other marine parks and aquariums to do the right thing and end the shows.” When asked if there was “anything SeaWorld could say or do” to change his mind, Nelson said no way. “I don’t want to play there,” he said, “and that’s just the end of the story.” For now, SeaWorld Orlando’s Bands, Brew & BBQ Fest has a rather anemic lineup. Booking major acts at the park, whether in February 2014 or any time after that, will likely become difficult as public pressure is brought to bear on potential performers. That could hurt SeaWorld’s already tarnished reputation, not to mention its bottom line. 7 Things About Wild Killer Whales You'll Never Learn at SeaWorld Killer Whales are among the most intelligent species in the world, making them particularly unsuitable to captivity.(One of the things I have noticed is that the majority of the killer whales in captivity shown in photos all have deformed dorsal fins. Isn't it time we stop keeping intelligent, sentient, wide ranging marine mammals such as Dolphins and Orcas in captivity just for our entertainment and profit for corporations? We don't OWN these magnificent creatures and no-one should be able to, including Sea World and Yes, even our own Coral World with their plans of breeding even more dolphins for dismal, sterile lives in capitivity.)

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Alana33

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Extremely distressing to see them promoting this and the continuing herding, hunting, CULLING and slaughter of intelligent creatures to incarcerate the choice picks for a abysmal life in captivity for greed and profits.

If they really cared about these beautiful creatures, they wouldn't create this pen nor have a breeding pen. Disgusting.

Posted : February 21, 2018 5:36 pm

ironheadUSVI

(@ironheadUSVI)

Posts: 253

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Extremely distressing to see them promoting this and the continuing herding, hunting, CULLING and slaughter of intelligent creatures to incarcerate the choice picks for a abysmal life in captivity for greed and profits.

If they really cared about these beautiful creatures, they wouldn't create this pen nor have a breeding pen. Disgusting.

Since the 'them' that you refer to must be Coral World, I'd like to see the link that evidences them culling & slaughtering. That alone would be all the evidence you need to stop this.

Posted : February 22, 2018 11:31 am

Alana33

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They're supporting it by their demand for dolphins to provide entertainment.

Posted : February 22, 2018 12:19 pm

Alana33

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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/ct-seaworld-san-antonio-deaths-20160210-story.html

More deaths at Seaworld, San Antonio

Posted : February 22, 2018 12:21 pm

Alana33

(@alana33)

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www.clickorlando.com/news/former-seaworld-ceo-refuses-to-answer-questions-in-shareholder-lawsuit

Seaworld CEO/Shareholder Lawsuit

Posted : February 24, 2018 11:52 am

Alana33

(@alana33)

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Thank you, Ottawa for the cetaceans ban!

news/politics/liberal-government-ban-cetaceans-1.4524432

Posted : February 25, 2018 2:43 pm

Alana33

(@alana33)

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Taiji Japan 2016/2018 Drive Season
135 Blue Cove Days
43 Red Cove Days
95 Dolphins Captured
613 SLAUGHTERED
As of today!

Posted : February 26, 2018 4:37 pm

Alana33

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The above was for 2017 - 2018 Taiji drive season.

www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/02/27/seaworld-ceo-joel-manby/376136002/

Seaworld's CEO out as attendance wanes.

Posted : February 27, 2018 5:28 pm

Alana33

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https://www.law.com/therecorder/2018/02/27/judge-nixes-seaworlds-bid-for-sanctions-against-covington-burling-in-killer-whale-case/?slreturn=20180128032650

Posted : February 28, 2018 7:58 pm

Alana33

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The Last Captive-Born Orca At SeaWorld Has Died

https://blog.therainforestsite.com/kyara-orca-death/?utm_source=trs-trsfan&utm_medium=social-fb&utm_content=link&utm_campaign=kyara-orca-death&utm_term=8639473&origin=trs-trsfan_social_fb_link_kyara-orca-death

Posted : March 30, 2018 1:45 pm

Alana33

(@alana33)

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Orca at SeaWorld sustains ‘horrific’ injury to dorsal fin

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/orca-at-seaworld-sustains-‘horrific’-injury-to-dorsal-fin/ar-AAvqcU9?ocid=sf

Posted : April 4, 2018 12:24 pm

Cydadedo

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lol

Posted : October 22, 2018 9:21 pm

Alana33

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It's not a laughing matter.
These marine mammals suffer horrifically in captivity.

In our own backyard:

https://coveblack.wordpress.com/2018/11/08/st-thomas-you-want-to-put-dolphins-in-that/

Posted : November 9, 2018 9:01 pm

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[Closed] 'Blackfish' Backlash: Fan Pressure Leads Willie Nelson to Cancel SeaWorld Concert

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