Okay friends lets do a run down on the Harry Styles captivity debate timeline because apparently people know nothing, Jon Snow.
In June 2012, 18 year old Harry Styles and some of his tour band visited the Georgia Aquarium and went behind the scenes of their dolphin program.
@GeorgiaAquarium: @OneDirection’s Harry Styles and musicians took a break from their sold out U.S. tour to visit @GeorgiaAquarium!
During a behind-the-scenes tour, they saw whale sharks and manta rays up close. Styles also paid special attention to an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin named Shaka; he touched her, fed her fish and signalled her to do a jump with the assistance of a trainer. [x]
Around the same time, Bandmates Louis and Liam visited MSQ and SeaWorld Orlando respectively. Both engaged in swim with programs. Both reported that they’d enjoyed their time at the facilities. Their stance on this at the present time is unknown.
In September 2012, Harry apparently watched The Cove, tweeting about it.
“Just watched 'The Cove' and it's one of the best and worst films I've ever seen. Unbelievable. Watch it and see what you think..”
I personally [theorcas, OP] have memory of the then 19 year old Harry tweeting something about watching Blackfish somewhere between 2012 and 2014, however I cannot find any screencaps of this mention and nothing is showing up in his twitter feed. Could possibly have been around October 2013 as this tweet from Zach Braff might suggest:
ZachBraff: Young girls who started following me because me and @Harry_Styles are BFF's, please watch the documentary "BlackFish." (Harry wants you to.)
I personally don’t know why the tweet has disappeared/been removed but I do remember something about it existing around that time.
In October 2014 Harry (now 20) met with Ric and Lincoln O’Barry of The Dolphin Project.
Ric has been fighting dolphin captivity for the past 40 years and has been on both sides of the fence when it comes to captivity. He is recognised as one of the leaders in the debate against cetacean captivity and is the man behind The Cove, of which Harry tweeted about in 2012. Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project have a heavy focus on the fate of dolphins in Japan, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands and also in captivity around the world.
HarryStyles: Just had lunch with @LincolnOBarry @RichardOBarry and @CalAurand Check out @Dolphin_Project and see if you support them like I do.
I feel like the wording of this tweet is an interesting way of putting things. Check them out and see if you support them. There is some level of agency given to the readers there.
Shortly after (still October 2014) Harry wore a Dolphin Project t-shirt on stage at One Direction’s MIAMI show.
Harry Wore What: "Harry wore a $28 @Dolphin_Project "Men's Dolphin Project Logo Tee" tonight in Miami - 10/5/14.
Most recently, Harry Styles has asked fans at One Direction’s July 2015 SAN DIEGO show not to go to SeaWorld.
“Does anybody here like dolphins?” the 21-year-old singer asked fans at the One Direction concert in San Diego last night. “Don’t go to SeaWorld!”
So what does all this mean, exactly? Harry Styles has been involved in the dolphin captivity debate longer than me, and I’ve been here a good while. Longer than a lot of people in this debate on this website. Harry Styles has been around it long enough to have had access to many sources of information on the topic, and is in a position to gain first hand access. Harry styles has visited one of SeaWorld’s closest business partners and gone behind the scenes at their facility without a previous bias. Harry Styles has heard from both sides of the story. Harry Styles has been working with Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project, who’s primary focus is NOT SeaWorld. Harry Styles is allowed to have an opinion. Especially an educated one.
So basically Harry Styles knows about Dolphins and people claiming he’s in it for a quick cash/fame grab after the most recent public statement do not know much about Harry Styles.
