Gabriel Olsen/Getty ImagesThe B-52s have sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Oklahoma-based Carson & Barnes Circus asking that it stop using the group’s recordings of the songs “(Meet) The Flintstones” and “The Bedrock Twitch” in its elephant act and urging the circus to discontinue all of its animal acts.
In the letter, the band’s members explain that they were alarmed to learn from animal-rights group PETA that their songs had been played during the circus’ recent stop in Kissimmee, Florida, noting that they’ve seen PETA-shot footage purportedly showing Carson & Barnes “animal care director” Tim Frisco abusing elephants while training the animals.
“We’ve seen the footage of Frisco cursing at elephants, shocking them with electric prods, and telling his trainers to drive bullhooks…into their bodies and twist them until the animals scream in pain,” The B-52s maintain. “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.”
B-52s singers Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson also appear in a new PETA YouTube video discussing their reasons for sending the cease-and-desist letter to the circus.
Pierson says in the clip, “Our message to our fans and our friends and our families is stay away from cruel circuses, and go to some great circuses like Cirque du Soleil and circuses that don’t use animal acts.”
Asked to comment about the cease-and-desist request and PETA’s claims, the circus sent a statement to ABC Radio that reads, “Carson & Barnes does not support any abuse of animals. The music in question of B-52’s was NOT utilized by Carson & Barnes nor was Carson & Barnes knowledgeable of any such music usage.”
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