Pedicini, Sandra. “SeaWorld Steps up Offense against Former Trainer John Hargrove.” OrlandoSentinel.com. Orlando Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2015. Web. 12 Aug. 2015.
John Hargrove, a former SeaWorld trainer, published a book entitled “Beneath the Surface.” In his book, Hargrove provides readers with a firsthand look into what happens behind the scenes at both SeaWorld San Antonio and SeaWorld San Diego. He criticizes SeaWorld and “portrays the animals as bored and stressed out.” Hargrove claims that trainers were sometimes instructed to hold back food, yet SeaWorld denies this statement. He also argues about other issues raised in the 2013 documentary “Blackfish,” such as SeaWorld being an unsafe environment for its killer whales.
In response to Hargrove’s book, SeaWorld sent an “almost 5-year-old video of Hargrove drinking and repeatedly using a racial epithet” to reporters. SeaWorld also said that John Hargrove quit his job “after being disciplined for a severe safety violation involving the park’s killer whales,” resulting in his transfer from orca stadium.
Hargrove disputed SeaWorld’s comments about him and stated that he believes SeaWorld is “conducting a smear campaign against him.” Instead of addressing the actual issues about the killer whales, SeaWorld is using anything they can to discredit Hargrove and make him look like an awful person.
SeaWorld spokesman, Fred Jacobs, says in an email: “We are offended by John’s behavior and language. The video is particularly reprehensible since John Hargrove is wearing a SeaWorld shirt. SeaWorld would have terminated Hargrove’s employment immediately had we known he engaged in this kind of behavior.” Hargrove claims to not remember the incident, but regardless, he states that this is a pathetic attempt on SeaWorld’s behalf to slander his name. In addition to releasing the video, it was also discovered that SeaWorld helped fund a website called RealJohnHargrove which “attacks” and “mocks” the ex-SeaWorld trainer.
Although SeaWorld is correct that this video showed John Hargrove to be irresponsibly drinking and his use of the “n” word to be highly inappropriate, I do not think SeaWorld should have personally attacked Hargrove because Hargrove’s use of a racial slur and his decision to drink does not affect or correlate with his opinions about SeaWorld being an unsafe environment for killer whales. This article is a perfect example of the ad hominem fallacy. Instead of using research or facts to refute the criticism in Hargrove’s book, SeaWorld decided to retaliate by releasing a video of Hargrove after having had too much to drink. To make matters worse, SeaWorld also funded a hate website entitled the RealJohnHargrove. On this site, people post articles and dig up dirt about Hargrove in order to mock the previous SeaWorld trainer.
These two responses that SeaWorld used are completely illogical and do not come close to addressing the arguments against SeaWorld’s mistreatment of its animals. These personal attacks do not have any correlation with the points SeaWorld should be addressing about it being an unsafe environment for killer whales. SeaWorld’s release of Hargrove’s drunken video is definitely in attempt to discredit him, making this an ad hominem fallacy.
I really enjoyed this specific topic and I really enjoyed the Blackfish documentary. I agree with what you said and how you went away in criticizing their comments. They could have done it in a better way that seemed more professional. Its all about reputation and comments like that tarnish their image
I would like to say how you have a clever title for it fits your theme of your blog post. Even though I do agree with seaworld going under the belt, I also believe that the trainer didn’t have to go there either. They were both at fault, and could have been handled better than putting each other out there.
Since I enjoyed the Blackfish documentary so much, I found this post very interesting. SeaWorld shouldn’t have released that video. It accomplished nothing and made them look desperate to discredit Hargrove. They didn’t handle his comments like a company should. Hargrove was probably a little harsh in comments as well, but at least he stated facts and used his experience with SeaWorld as his credibility.
Me being another person that actually went back to finish the black fish documentary this post really interests me. The multiple problems Sea world tried to avoid kept bitting them back literally. I believe Sea world is a very shady corporation that will go to any lengths to get away with what they have done.