Public opinion threatens their revenue and very existence - SeaWorld tries to silence debate.

[Surya Gayatri]

SeaWorld Wants To Hear Your Thoughts — Unless You're A Critic



From late 2009 through early 2010, SeaWorld's Facebook posts were mostly pictures of cute animals and celebrities such as this Daytona 500 champ playing tug-of-war with a caged tiger. Then, on February 24, 2010, the tone of SeaWorld's Facebook page changed when Tilikum, the legendary SeaWorld orca, killed his trainer, Dawn Brancheau.

Three years later, "Blackfish" premiered, and SeaWorld has been scrambling for the past two years to save its image: It was just one month ago that the troubled company released the latest installment in its save-face campaign.

It didn't take long for SeaWorld to realize that its Facebook page had the potential to turn this tragedy into fodder for public debate about orca captivity.

After one night of uncensored comments on its Facebook page, SeaWorld took greater measures to prevent public debate.

SeaWorld silences public debate.

SeaWorld's efforts to dodge criticism didn't stop in April 2010. They continued after the release of "Blackfish," and they continue today.

The PR team at SeaWorld might believe that the Facebook page is successful: Today it still posts the same type of promotional poppycock that it did five years ago. Here's a post from Friday with another NASCAR driver posing with an animal.



Public awareness about the trauma experienced by orcas in captivity is on the rise. Unfortunately for SeaWorld and amusement parks like it, an informed public threatens their revenue and very existence. When tragedy strikes, SeaWorld does its best to steer the conversation where it wants, and when the conversation gets out of control, SeaWorld will silence it.


https://www.thedodo.com/seaworld-silences-critics-1225669217.html

__________________

Corporate animal cruelty is big business, and they won't go down without pulling out all the stops.

[Adrahil]

1. We're headed to Orlando this summer....

Despite the fact that my daughter ADORES whales and porpoises, we've made the conscious decision to avoid Sea World.

[Surya Gayatri]

2. Well done. May your individual action be multiplied by hundreds of thousands.

Until they stop the barbaric practice of orca and dolphin exploitation.

[dem in texas]

3. Sea World's TV ad

The ad is so fake, "We love them and you do too!" Throw-up. I went to Sea World as a teenager years ago, that was enough for me. I never took my children there.

[Surya Gayatri]

4. I first went as an adult - didn't realize what those sea mammals were

being forced to endure until some years later.

I would never go near the place now.

[Mr Dixon]

6. Agreed

Every-time i see that commercial i scream lie's allllllllllllllllllllll lie's

[hamsterjill]

5. I live in San Antonio, and yes, I've been there. But I won't go back.

After seeing Blackfish, my understanding changed and I made the decision that I will not spend consumer dollars there.

I think it is only a matter of time until these theme parks, along with circuses and rodeos (at least in some areas) are a thing of the past.

[Surya Gayatri]

7. ^^^AMEN to that^^^!

"I think it is only a matter of time..."

[AZ Progressive]

8. This is not unexpected given that this is what aggressive greedy people do

They have no regard for how others are treated, whether it is people or animals. Seaworld's been able to get away with this, but when you do bad things under the cover of goodness, you should know that the day of reckoning will come sooner or later.

[Surya Gayatri]

9. They're being named and shamed and it's wrecking their bottom line...