Impacts on SeaWorld

As we looked more into how SeaWorld was being struck by this outrage, we found that Blackfish was released on July 19, 2013 and very soon after people could start to see how it was affecting SeaWorld, the formerly-loved amusement park that is known for its sea creatures, and more specifically, its orca shows. They were then seen in a completely different light and it started to hurt their image, reputation, and profit. As if the documentary wasn’t heartbreaking enough, a year after it aired, a video of a pregnant orca that was caught in a gate and struggling to get out was found and shared. What might even be worse is that SeaWorld shook it off as “gate play” that occurs pretty frequently. SeaWorld defended itself in every way possible and that outraged people even more. Even big artists such as Willie Nelson, Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, and many others that were scheduled to perform at the park canceled their gig to join the protest against SeaWorld and show their support in protecting and saving the beautiful sea creatures. This also empowered the ordinary people to join the protest and stay away from SeaWorld. According to dailymail.com, within only one year, attendance dropped from 2.2% and SeaWorld lost $25.4 million. By August of 2014, their stock was greatly affected. It plunged down more than 30% after they released their second quarter earnings. By December of 2014, Jim Atchison, CEO of SeaWorld stepped down from his position because of all the negativity he was facing. Shortly after his resignation, 300 people were laid off of their staff. At around the same time as all of this was going on, many people started petitions against the park, asking its biggest partners to stop working with them, knowing that SeaWorld relies heavily on them to have the money to continue their orca programs. These petitions reached some of their partners, and some of them even caused real change. Major airlines such as Virgin America Inc, Southwest Airlines, and British Airways all ended their partnership with SeaWorld. There are even cases of kids who petitioned in their classes to cancel their field trip and high school students who petitioned against having their prom at SeaWorld. With everyone talking about Blackfish, and these poor, detained orcas, SeaWorld was hit heavily and very quickly after the documentary was released.