PETA Targets Soulja Boy & Bow Wow’s SeaWorld Show with Protest Plans

Soulja Boy and Bow Wow are making headlines again but this time, it’s not for music. The hip-hop duo’s upcoming concert at SeaWorld San Diego has sparked a fierce backlash from PETA, the leading animal rights organization, which has announced plans to protest the event.

Set to take place later this month, the SeaWorld performance is part of the “Millennium Vibes” tour, an early-2000s nostalgia run bringing hits like Crank That and Let Me Hold You back to the stage. But as news of the venue spread, so did outrage from animal advocates who argue that SeaWorld’s history of exploiting marine life makes it an unacceptable platform for entertainment.

PETA wasted no time in launching a digital campaign, stating in a press release:
“Bow Wow and Soulja Boy are setting a dangerous precedent by performing at what amounts to a prison for animals. SeaWorld profits off the suffering of intelligent orcas and dolphins who deserve freedom, not a soundtrack of hits.”

The protest is set to take place outside the San Diego venue on the night of the concert. PETA is calling on fans to boycott the show and is encouraging others to flood the artists’ social media pages with calls to cancel.

This isn’t the first time SeaWorld has faced the wrath of activists. Ever since the release of the 2013 documentary Blackfish, the park has been at the center of controversy for its treatment of orcas. Though SeaWorld has since made changes to its animal breeding and performance policies, critics say the changes don’t go far enough.

As for Soulja Boy and Bow Wow, neither artist has responded publicly to the growing backlash. Soulja Boy, who recently made headlines after winning a legal battle over defamation, has kept quiet about the protest, an uncharacteristic silence from an artist known for responding quickly and loudly on social media.

Whether the performance will go on as planned remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: the intersection of hip-hop, entertainment, and animal activism is heating up. With PETA promising a loud and visible presence at the show, fans may be forced to ask themselves whether nostalgia is worth the ethical cost.

Stay tuned. This story is far from over.

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Image: Soulja Boy on DOPE Magazine Cover by Arialyssa is licensed under CC BY 3.0

Bow Wow (Shad Moss) 2022 by Sidewalks Entertainment is licensed ubder CC BY 3.0