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China Anne McClain apologized after a video showed her touching a resting sea turtle -- Photo Credit: China McClain/Instagram
Disney star China Anne McClain has apologized after she faced backlash over a video that showed her touching a resting sea turtle during a trip to Hawaii. Per DLNR, the video in question was posted on McClain’s Instagram page.
But the 26-year-old’s actions drew backlash from several people including Hawaii Governor Josh Green. “Aloha China, I urge you to educate yourself on Hawaii’s laws and the importance of protecting our marine life before visiting our islands,” Green commented in the since-deleted video. “Please delete this video and do better.”
McClain as well as her sister Sierra and their father/manager reached out to the DLNR on Tuesday to render the apology. But McClain, who has featured in several Disney projects including A.N.T. Farm, Wizards of Waverly Place, and Hannah Montana, explained that the video in question was from when they visited Hawaii two years ago.
“I was not fully aware of the situation until today, and I certainly wasn’t aware of the laws. The video was from two years ago when we visited Hawai‘i and I came across it in my phone and decided to post it,” McClain, who has over seven million Instagram followers, explained.
“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.”
READ ALSO: Zanzibar: 8 children among 9 dead after consuming sea turtle meat, over 70 others hospitalized
McClain’s sister Sierra similarly re-echoed her sister’s sentiments. “We have an immense amount of respect for the residents of Hawai’i and their intent to safeguard their land & their wildlife, and we plan to take the necessary precautions in the future when traveling,” said Sierra.
Per the DLNR, it is not automatically unlawful to touch turtles “unless law enforcement agencies determine that the actions are a ‘take.’” In situations where it is determined that a turtle has been harmed or its behavior has changed because of someone touching it, that individual can face state and/or federal charges.
“On its face their activity may not have been a violation of state or federal rules that protect endangered or threatened species like turtles, but it certainly ignored wildlife viewing guidelines developed by NOAA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the DLNR,” the DLNR explained.
Individuals are advised to stay at least 10 feet away from sea turtles, avoid touching, chasing, feeding, or interfering with adults and hatchlings, and avoid blocking their access to or from the ocean.
“We want people to know that China was not aware of the laws, and we appreciate that people and the agencies reached out,” McClain’s father and manager said. “All our family loves and respects Hawai‘i and we apologize for inadvertently causing this pain.”
READ ALSO: McCleave becomes 1st Black female architect to earn doctorate from University of Hawaii at Mānoa
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