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It looks like Heart is the latest act to drop out of SeaWorld’s Bands, Brew & Barbecue music fest as a protest for the way the park allegedly treats orcas.
The Barenaked Ladies was the first band to cancel on SeaWorld; then came Willie Nelson.
Now, Heart is in on the Orca rights action. The classic-rock band took to its official Twitter over the weekend to announce that it too was canceling its gig with SeaWorld thanks, again, to the CNN-aired documentary Blackfish, which exposes the dangers of keeping orcas in captivity and interviews former trainers who speak of their regret over harming the animals.
See also: SeaWorld Facing Huge Backlash After Blackfish Documentary Airs
The music festival, which is scheduled to go down throughout February, features weekend shows for parkgoers. But after their fans made Barenaked Ladies aware of Blackfish, the band released a statement saying it was taking itself out of the festival.
Willie Nelson’s cancellation soon followed after 8,500 fans signed a petition asking him to cancel his February 1 show.
The Blackfish documentary has been prompting other celebrities, such as Howard Stern, to speak out against SeaWorld.
The doc has also spurred protests from people from all walks of life, including a 12-year-old girl who crashed the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to stage a solo protest of the SeaWorld float as she chanted “Boycott SeaWorld” and waved a sign.
REO Speedwagon, Justin Moore, Martina McBride, and .38 Special were still scheduled to perform at SeaWorld’s music fest. Though it’s probably only a matter of time before petitions reach them as well.
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