NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

SeaWorld suspends worker accused of posing as activist

SAN DIEGO

SeaWorld suspended an employee accused of posing for years as an animal-rights activist and trying to incite violence among peaceful protesters, company officials said.

CEO Joel Manby said in a statement Wednesday that SeaWorld Entertainment hired an independent outside counsel to investigate claims made this week by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

PETA accused SeaWorld of using an employee to infiltrate its organization. The claims were “very concerning,” Manby said.

“These allegations, if true, are not consistent with the values of the SeaWorld organization and will not be tolerated,” he said.

PETA said its own investigation revealed a human-resources worker at SeaWorld San Diego named Paul McComb incited protesters and posted incendiary comments on social media while masquerading as an animal-rights activist since 2012.

McComb, who reportedly used the alias Thomas Jones, was arrested along with other animal-rights activists during a 2014 protest at the Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif., PETA said.

Efforts to find a phone listing for McComb weren’t successful Thursday.

SeaWorld did not name McComb but said the employee in question was placed on paid administrative leave pending findings of the investigation.

The investigator, Ron Olson of the firm Munger, Tolles & Olson, will be given “full access to our organization and people,” Manby said.

SeaWorld has been under fire since the 2013 documentary film “Blackfish” suggested the treatment of captive orcas provokes violent behavior. Park attendance dropped after the release of the documentary.

GM officials meet with group protesting Kid Rock, rebel flag

DETROIT

General Motors officials met Thursday with the leader of an activist group demanding the automaker cut financial ties with Kid Rock over the musician’s use of the Confederate battle flag, a discussion that both sides appeared optimistic about.

Neither GM nor the Rev. Charles Williams II gave details about the meeting, but their comments indicated that some sort of resolution seemed possible.

“Because we have had some dialogue that seems promising, we are continuing to meet — but we are not backing off,” said Williams, president of the National Action Network Detroit chapter.

The group has protested Kid Rock’s use of the flag. The musician’s publicist told the Detroit Free Press that he last used the flag on tour more than five years ago. Last week, Kid Rock emphatically dismissed critics’ concerns.

Williams said he couldn’t say whether Kid Rock was still using the flag in performances, but had concerns that he appears with the flag on social media.

Associated Press