More Artists Cancel Seaworld Concerts
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: The list of performers for SeaWorld's banned blues and barbecue concert series keeps shrinking. The latest group to pull out of the all-star line-up is country singer, Martina McBride. Take a look with me, this growing list. Six other musical acts bowing out because of the controversy surrounding the documentary "Blackfish." You had first, the Bare Naked Ladies, Willie Nelson, Heart, Chip Trick, Trisha Yearwood, REO Speedwagon, the latest pulling out Friday. Now CNN aired this documentary, which spotlighted the death of a SeaWorld trainer by a killer whale. The film also examined how the park treats mammals in captivity. That set off a massive online petition for these bands to pull out of their gigs at SeaWorld. Willie Nelson was one of the first. I talked to him last week. He explained to me why he pulled out.</s>WILLIE NELSON, CANCELED SEAWORLD CONCERT (via telephone): Yes, I had a lot of calls from people asking me to cancel. I understand there are petitions going around with thousands of people's names on it so you know, I had to cancel. And I think that also, I don't agree with the way they treat their animals. It wasn't that hard a deal for me to cancel.</s>BALDWIN: So that was Willie, Willie Nelson. He said that there is nothing SeaWorld can do to change his mind, nothing they can say to him. He just doesn't want to play there. Look at this, though. This is a statement, a huge statement, a piece of the statement from SeaWorld, calling its critics a small group of misinformed individuals, has invited the bands to see firsthand how it cares for its marine mammals. Let me bring in Grey Stafford, the director of conservation for the Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium. My goodness, this list keeps growing and growing, but putting freedom of speech aside, are the performers overreacting?</s>GREY STAFFORD, CONSERVATION DIRECTOR, WILDLIFE WORLD ZOO AND AQUARIUM: Well, actually, I think they are. I think it was -- there was a time when I was a kid when rock bands would never jump on the bandwagon or the speed wagon in this case, but might actually rebel against, you know, a group think kind of situation. I think a more courageous thing would have been for them to actually take SeaWorld up on their offer to go and investigate for themselves because as you say, they're getting all their information from "Blackfish," which as you know, is a rather one-sided piece, and really doesn't reflect the kind of care that the animals receive today in this modern age.</s>BALDWIN: I would say seeing the film, it exposes both sides. We wanted to make sure we had you on, though, explaining - we've heard so much from these artists, Grey, but for you, you say, you know, that because a marine mammal is in captivity, it doesn't mean that it leads a sad, sad existence. So you tell me, what should SeaWorld be saying now? Not only just to these artists, saying, come to our park and we'll show you it's a-OK, but what should SeaWorld be saying to the public?</s>STAFFORD: Well, you know, that's an excellent question. I don't think it's something just SeaWorld should be saying. One of the issues I've had with all my zoo colleagues since the airing of the film and before is, we need to be proud of what we do. We do great work at zoos and aquariums, modern zoos and aquariums. We train animals with positive re-enforcement. We're learning all sorts of things about them and how to care for them, and that information transfers over to caring for animals in the wild. It really is in nature that we see the biggest decline of species. We need that information that zoos and aquariums provide us. I would like to see my colleagues speak out more in favor of what they do and not hang their heads down and apologize for the great work that's being done each and every day.</s>BALDWIN: Grey Stafford, thank you so much for sharing with us. Appreciate it. Iowa is the first contest out of the presidential gate in 2016. Who is the front-runner among Republicans? The answer might surprise you. That's next.