Smallscreen News

Brigitte Bardot offers to swap places with 'Whale Wars' Watson in jail

By April MacIntyre May 17, 2012, 13:57 GMT

In trouble: Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, poses at the helm of the \'Steve Irwin\' in the port of Barcelona, Spain EPA/ALBERT OLIVE

Just ahead of the Season 5 premiere of the Emmy-Nominated “Whale Wars” on Animal Planet on June 1st, the show’s star Paul Watson was arrested in Germany, tied to actions in 2002 against an illegal shark finning operation.

French actress and animal rights crusader Brigitte Bardot has spoken out on Watson’s behalf, offering to take his place in jail, as she is outraged by his imprisonment.

In 2011, Bardot even had a Sea Shepherd trimaran named after her.

The Telegraph reports that in a statement issued by Bardot, she explains that:

"I have always supported Paul Watson, my brother in arms. Being outraged by the fact that he's been put in prison, I offer to take his place because I am his accomplice."

Other, celebrity supporters include:

·         Red Hot Chili Peppers

·         Daryl Hannah

·         Pierce Brosnan

·         Michelle Rodriguez     

Whale Wars returns for a fifth season beginning Friday, June 1 at 9 PM (ET/PT) with eight engaging new episodes and a one-hour recap special documenting the Sea Shepherd’s annual whale defense campaign in the Southern Ocean.

Premieres Friday, June 1, at 9 PM (ET/PT)

From Animal Planet:

Captain Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society return for a fifth adrenaline fueled season of WHALE WARS, one of Animal Planet's most talked-about, best-performing and award-winning series to date. WHALE WARS documents the Sea Shepherds' ongoing whale defense campaign in the Southern Ocean as they wage a high-risk battle and masterful chess match to find and stop Japanese ships from hunting whales in the name of research.

After last year's victorious campaign over the Japanese, the Sea Shepherds thought they had ended whaling in the Southern Ocean once and for all. But surprisingly, the Japanese are returning stronger than ever, and this time, they come with a military convoy and zero tolerance for the conservation group. Anticipating the battle of a lifetime, the Sea Shepherds once again are trolling the Antarctic with surprise tactics, intense strategy and unparalleled passion.