SeaWorld: A PR hit for Blackstone

When Tilikum, a 12,000-pound killer whale, pulled a trainer to her death at SeaWorld, it also pulled the Blackstone Group (Blackstone Group news) into another saga. Recall that the private equity giant bought SeaWorld and other theme parks from Anheuser-Busch InBev for $2.3 billion late last year. Fortune notes that the likes of Matt Damon and Bob Barker are now calling on the firm to take some action.

The show has gone on, however, despite protests by animal rights groups, some celebrities and media reports that question the use of captive animals in show business. This has the makings of a PR (PR news) disaster on two fronts, animal rights and callousness in the wake of a human tragedy. To some, the show might have been paused for a longer period of reflection, despite the bottom line impact. It's a PR hit in another way as well. Fortune has taken the moment to publish a list of the many "enemies" the firm has made over the years, from investors in its stock to congressmen to employees of purchased companies and many others. Ouch.

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