ORLANDO, Fla. — The rock bands Heart and Barenaked Ladies along with country singer Willie Nelson have canceled their planned performances at SeaWorld in Florida, citing the recent documentary “Blackfish,” which raises questions about the effects of captivity on whales.
Joan Jett on Monday also joined the list of recording artists distancing themselves from the marine park when she sent a letter to SeaWorld President Jim Atchison asking that the park stop using her song “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll” as the opening music for its “Shamu Rocks” show.
“I’m among the millions who saw ‘Blackfish’ and am sickened that my music was blasted without my permission at sound-sensitive marine mammals,” Jett wrote.
“Ms. Jett’s music is not currently part of any show, although it was played as walk-in music for the “Shamu Rocks” nighttime show at SeaWorld Orlando and was fully licensed for us to use,” spokesman Nick Gollattscheck said in an email. “A new nighttime Shamu show is being designed for SeaWorld Orlando and we had no plans to use any of her music in that show.”
Heart was the latest act to cancel appearances at SeaWorld Orlando’s Bands, Brew & Barbecue music series in February, making their announcement over the weekend. The series is held over several weekends.
A posting on Heart’s official Twitter page said the decision was influenced by “Blackfish.” Nelson and Barenaked Ladies made their decisions after fans launched Change.org petitions urging them not to perform at SeaWorld.
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