SeaWorld launches ad counterattack in wake of "Blackfish" backlash
SeaWorld placed full-page advertisements in several national newspapers Friday defending its treatment of animals following a wave of musical acts backing out of performing at the company's park in Orlando, Fla.
The Orlando Sentinel reported that SeaWorld placed the ads in Friday's editions of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and other newspapers, including the Sentinel, the local newspaper where the company is based.
The cancellations came following the October release of a CNN documentary titled "Blackfish." The film focuses on the death of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau, who was killed by a killer whale named Tilikum at the park nearly four years ago. SeaWorld's ad doesn't mention the film.
SeaWorld CEO Jim Atchison told the Sentinel that the musical cancellations prompted the new response.
"That ended up getting more coverage and became a story of its own, and, accordingly, what we wanted to do is to make sure that some of the misconceptions that were floating around related to that coverage were put to bed," Atchison told the paper.
In its ad, SeaWorld says it has invested $70 million in its killer whale habitats in the last three years. Brancheau died in February 2010.