PETA is going where no anti-SeaWorld campaign has gone before — with a $24,000 poster at Lindbergh Field to be seen by thousands. But SeaWorld paints the project as offensive and tasteless.
The 20-foot graphic cartoon shows a captive orca with a man supposed to be SeaWorld’s CEO in his mouth. The display is aimed at Comic-Con attendees, urging convention-goers to steer clear of SeaWorld over objections to marine-mammal confinement.
In response, SeaWorld said in a statement:
Even by PETA’s standards, this ad is as offensive as it is tasteless. PETA isn’t concerned with actually helping animals. They are a radical organization that continues to spend its money on publicity stunts like the profane Jason Biggs video and advertising campaigns like this for the sole purpose of promoting their agenda. The truth is that our killer whales are healthy and happy, and thrive in our care. The real animal welfare organization is SeaWorld, not PETA, and our trainers, aviculturists, animal-care staff and veterinarians are the true advocates for animals. We encourage people to get the facts on our commitment to the animals in our care at seaworld.com/truth and seaworldcares.com.
The display a joint project between Bluewater Productions and PETA — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
The massive installation greets passengers on their way to baggage claim at the center of Terminal 2.
“Comic-Con fans love blood and guts when they’re fake, but at SeaWorld, it’s all too real for comfort,” says Bluewater founder Darren Davis. “The orcas are desperate to be free. That’s why trainers have been killed, and that’s what we’re depicting in this campaign with PETA.”
Bluewater, known for its edgy spoofs of controversial topics, designed the cartoon in the wake of last year’s documentary “Blackfish.”
PETA says the film was viewed by 21 million on CNN alone; it explored SeaWorld’s capture and confinement of orcas, which it says led the whale Tilikum to kill three people.
“SeaWorld has been in a free fall since “Blackfish” premiered — attendance is down 13 percent, investors are dumping millions of dollars in stock, and bands are canceling concerts at the parks,” says PETA Senior Vice President Dan Mathews.
PETA’s campaign against SeaWorld was profiled in Friday’s Wall Street Journal.
U-T San Diego reported that SeaWorld also has a presence at the airport, highlighting its animal care efforts in wall and digital ads.
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