The B-52’s issued a cease-and-desist letter to a Florida circus after PETA informed them their “Meet the Flintstones” and “The Bedrock Twitch” were used during the Carson & Barnes Circus in Kissimmee, Florida. The Circus has received over 100 violations for their cruelty toward animals.
The animal care director, Tim Frisco has been caught on tape cursing at the elephants, shocking them with electric prods and telling his trainers to drive bullhooks – heavy weapons with sharp, steel tips into their bodies and twist them until the animals scream in pain.
The band added, “We and our songs are all about freedom and fun—things that animals in the circus sadly never experience.” When learning about the cruelty and abuse the elephants have undergone under the care of trainer, Frisco, The B-52s’ Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider, Cindy Wilson and Keith Strickland penned an open letter to the owners of the Carson & Barnes Circus.
The group also shared a video where Pierson and Wilson signed their cease-and-desist letter, as well as hidden camera footage of the elephants’ trainer smacking the animals with a prod.
The B-52’s cease and desist letter to Carson & Barnes Circus:
“We were alarmed when we learned from our friends at PETA that your “animal care director,” Tim Frisco, used our songs “Meet The Flintstones” and “The Bedrock Twitch” during his Carson & Barnes act featuring three elephants in Kissimmee, Florida, recently.
We’ve seen the footage of Frisco cursing at elephants, shocking them with electric prods, and telling his trainers to drive bullhooks—heavy weapons with sharp steel tips—into their bodies and twist them until the animals scream in pain. We’re also aware of Carson & Barnes’ multiple violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act for failing to provide animals with minimum space, protection from the weather, and necessities such as clean water and adequate veterinary care.
Kelly Miller Circus, which once used elephants from your circus, is now animal-free. Stardust Circus recently dropped your elephant act, and Cole Bros. Circus—where Frisco was a trainer—stopped touring. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus closed down because it wouldn’t change with the times. Carson & Barnes should follow the lead of Kelly Miller, Circus Vargas, Cirque Italia, and all the other circuses that are thriving because they feature only willing human performers.
This letter shall serve as our demand that Carson & Barnes immediately cease and desist from any and all further use of any B-52s music in connection with any circus act or performance. Should you ignore this demand, we reserve the right to pursue all applicable legal remedies available to us.
We and our songs are all about freedom and fun—things that animals in the circus sadly never experience.
Sincerely,
Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider, Cindy Wilson, and Keith Strickland
The B-52s
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