Actresses apologize for sea turtle video that sparked ‘furor,’ Hawaii officials say
Two actresses, including one with Disney ties, have apologized for a video filmed in Hawaii that sparked a “social media furor,” officials said.
The video shows one of the actresses – who are sisters – touching a sea turtle during a visit to the state, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said in a March 3 post on Facebook. The other sister was filming, officials said.
China McClain, known for the TV series “A.N.T. Farm” and multiple “Descendants” movies, among other projects, shared the sea turtle video to Instagram, officials said. She has 7.4 million followers.
The post received “tens of thousands of likes and more than 2,000 comments, many of which pleaded for the video to be taken down and for them to apologize for potential cultural insensitivity,” officials said.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green was among the commenters, officials said.
The video was removed by midday March 3, officials said.
It was filmed on the island of Maui, Hawaii News Now reported.
Officials said “touching turtles is not necessarily breaking the law, unless law enforcement agencies determine that the actions are a ‘take.’ For example, if a person’s actions in some way harm a turtle or alter a turtle’s behaviors, there are a variety of state and/or federal laws that a person could be charged with,” per the release.
But while “on its face their activity may not have been a violation of state or federal rules that protect endangered or threatened species like turtles” it’s not in line with “wildlife viewing guidelines developed by” federal and state agencies, officials said in the release.
People are asked to stay at least 10 feet from sea turtles, plus “avoid touching, chasing, feeding, or interfering” with them and blocking their ocean access, officials said.
China McClain told officials that the video was filmed during a trip two years ago, and she shared it after recently spotting it on her phone, per the release.
“I was not fully aware of the situation until today, and I certainly wasn’t aware of the laws,” China McClain said, according to the release.
She added that “it’s the people I don’t want to hurt. I understand respecting culture, and I understand the pain that comes with not having your culture respected. Those are never lines that we cross intentionally, so that part of this situation is hurting us right now. I adore these beautiful turtles, and the people of Hawai’i. We’re very sorry.”
Sierra McClain, China’s sister and an actress known for “9-1-1: Lone Star” and “Empire,” said that “we have an immense amount of respect for the residents of Hawai’i and their intent to safeguard their land (and) their wildlife, and we plan to take the necessary precautions in the future when traveling,” according to officials.
The sisters’ manager and dad, Michael McClain, said “China was not aware of the laws, and we appreciate that people and the agencies reached out,” per the release. He added that “all our family loves and respects Hawai’i and we apologize for inadvertently causing this pain.”
.JPG)