scorecard
  1. Home
  2. entertainment
  3. Movies
  4. Big Music Acts Cancel SeaWorld Performance After 'Blackfish' Doc Shows Mistreatment Of Whales

Big Music Acts Cancel SeaWorld Performance After 'Blackfish' Doc Shows Mistreatment Of Whales

Aly Weisman   

Big Music Acts Cancel SeaWorld Performance After 'Blackfish' Doc Shows Mistreatment Of Whales

Willie Nelson

AP Photo/Hans Pennink

Willie Nelson, Barenaked Ladies, and Heart pull the plug after seeing controversial new film.

Willie Nelson, Barenaked Ladies, and Heart have all canceled shows at SeaWorld after seeing "Blackfish" - a chilling new documentary about the mistreatment of whales that has turned them into 'serial' killer whales.

"I don't agree with the way they treat their animals," Nelson told CNN's Brooke Baldwin. "It wasn't that hard a deal for me."

"I understand that there are some natural-habitat zoos out there, which is probably OK," Nelson added. "But what they do at SeaWorld is not OK."

The country legend's comments came one day after a SeaWorld Orlando spokesman said the Nelson would not be part of next year Bands, Brew & BBQ events "due to scheduling conflicts."

After "Blackfish" aired on CNN, many now share Nelson's sentiments.

Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies also pulled out of a Florida gig at SeaWorld, explaining on their 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."

Most recently, the band Heart also canceled an Orlando performance.


In response, SeaWorld spokesman Nick Gollattscheck told CNN: "While we're disappointed a small group of misinformed individuals was able to deny fans what would have been great concerts at SeaWorld ... we respect the bands' decisions."

REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick, Justin Moore, Scotty McCreery, Martina McBride and 38 Special are still scheduled to perform - despite Change.org petitions asking the musicians to re-think the shows.

READ MORE ARTICLES ON



Popular Right Now



Advertisement