For Immediate Release:
October 28, 2011
Contact:
Wendy Wegner 202-483-7382
Atlanta, GA -- Elvira is not happy with the Georgia Aquarium's upcoming "Georgia A-Scary-Um" party. In a letter sent today on PETA's behalf to aquarium officials, the Mistress of the Dark takes the aquarium to task for its "disturbing" plan to play Halloween music throughout the aquarium during this weekend's bash, despite the fact that three aquarium employees have complained that the loud music aggravates some of the animals and causes them to fight. Her letter comes less than a month after the aquarium attracted controversy for throwing a noisy dance party for Atlanta Pride, after which PETA filed a formal complaint.
"What are you attempting to run—an educational facility or a Studio 54 knock-off?" writes Elvira. "Anyone who has ever thrown a party knows that loud music and strangers frighten many domestic animals, and their guardians often put them in a safe room away from the noise. PETA's formal complaint states that three separate aquarium employees said that many of the confined wild animals become aggravated and even fight when the music gets pumping—and they have no safe room to escape to. This disturbs me more than Freddy vs. Jason."
Elvira's letter to the aquarium follows.
October 27, 2011
David Kimmel
President and CEO
Georgia Aquarium
Dear Mr. Kimmel:
In the wake of the controversy over loud party music that distresses the aquarium's animals, I was surprised to learn about this weekend's "Georgia A-Scary-Um" bash in which Halloween music will play throughout the aquarium. What are you attempting to run—an educational facility or a Studio 54 knock-off?
You have stated that caring for the 120,000 wild animals confined in downtown Atlanta is your top priority, but looking at your website, it appears that the aquarium is pimping the critters to lure people to party, get married, have a bar mitzvah, or liven up a dull corporate meeting. You're turning this place into an amusement park, but unlike at Disneyland, the performers are not animatronic, cannot be switched off, and don't care to live in a haunted mansion 24/7.
Anyone who has ever thrown a party knows that loud music and strangers frighten many domestic animals, and caring guardians often put them in a safe room away from the noise. PETA's formal complaint states that three separate aquarium employees said that many of the confined wild animals become aggravated and even fight when the music gets pumping—and they have no safe room to escape to. This disturbs me more than Freddy vs. Jason. Perhaps you should consider having Halloween-themed events year-round—at least the public would see the aquarium for the House of Horrors it is.
Yours
cruelly,
Cassandra
Peterson, aka "Elvira"