Welp.
That didn’t take long.
Siesta Key has aired an entirety of one episode on MTV and the show is already facing threats of a boycott.
The show was actually facing a boycott before it even aired last night’s premiere; and this is why…
Prior to MTV airing the opening installment, footage of a shark being dragged to its death went viral.
And while Siesta Key star Alex Kompothecras was not the one doing the dragging, he is a close friend of the main perpetrator and that’s enough for animal lovers.
Outrage over the incident spread quickly around the Internet, with a Facebook page titled “Boycott Siesta Key MTV” earning over 8,000 Likes in just a few days time.
“Over the past few days, the connection between the production of the Siesta Key show and the horrific videos and photos of animal abuse have come to light,” reads a Facebook entry for a protest of Monday night’s premiere event.
This is the profile photo of the Boycott Siesta Key MTV account:
The premiere party, which had been scheduled to take place yesterday in Siesta Key (d’uh) was actually canceled at the last minute.
Due to this protest? In part.
But Alex also received a number of death threats, which the Facebook group does NOT condone.
“We have repeatedly said that we do not condone any type of violence of threats of any kind! We come from a place of love. Thanks for all the support,” reads a message on the site.
Alex’s father, a chiropractor named Gary Kompothecras, came up with the idea for the series, which is produced by the same team behind Laguns Beach and which will track the lives of eight privileged friends in the Siesta Key,
Dr. Kompothecras wants his son to be the focal point of the show; he wants Alex to basically be the next Lauren Conrad.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, Dr. Kompothecras did not clarify whether the viewing party for the premiere was canceled due to the shark video and subsequent death threats.
But he did hint at other underlying issues.
“I wouldn’t say that’s the only reason,” he said mysteriously. “There are other reasons.”
Alex, meanwhile, maintains his innocence.
“I had absolutely nothing to do with the shark video,” he wrote on the aforementioned Facebook page, adding of the person at the center of it:
“Yes he’s a friend of mine, but no I don’t agree with what he did. Check your facts before you go posting on my page. Thanks.”
MTV has not commented on the controversy.
But it did air the premiere, of course.
You can watch Siesta Key online via the following link in order to see what all the fuss is about:
