A Blackstone spokeswoman issued a correction on Friday after SeaWorld's biggest shareholder blamed trainer Dawn Brancheau for her own death in a TV interview, despite the company's previous claim she did nothing wrong.
During an appearance on CNBC on Thursday, Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman said SeaWorld had a safety lapse and that Brancheau violated all of the company's safety rules.
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The statement contradicted court testimony from SeaWorld executives, who say Brancheau was following all safety protocols when she was drowned by killer whale Tilikum in 2010.
"Mr. Schwarzman was unaware of the precise circumstances of the incident and his comments did not accurately reflect the facts of the accident or SeaWorld's long-standing position on it," the correction read. "Dawn's death remains of source of great sadness for her family, friends and colleagues and Blackstone regrets the error."
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