Stab: “The boy jumped on the shark!”

Online retailer reacts to yesterday's shark attack by blaming the victim!

Yesterday, struggling online retailer Stab magazine responded to a shark attack in Florida by victim shaming and Shark-gate has officially broken wide open. In case you missed, young Zack Davis was surfing near Vero Beach whilst wearing a Sharkbanz shark deterrent bracelet that his mom gifted him for Christmas. It was the first time he had ever worn the device and also the first time he had ever been attacked.

Stab, which actively promotes Sharkbanz technology was widely expected to issue an apology but instead doubled down by crafting a story which asserts that young Zack Davis was, in fact, the aggressor in the situation. Let’s read!

According to CBS 12, Sharkbanz contacted Zack, telling him that he was the first person to be attacked whilst wearing the device. “I’m really relieved he is ok and he was super positive about his recovery,” Sharkbanz co-founder, Nathan Garrison, told CBS 12. “What happened here is essentially the rarest of shark encounters where Zack jumped off his board and pretty much landed on the shark. If anything it probably helped clear the shark out of the area quicker.”

Though, Zack says that’s not how it went down: “I know I didn’t land on the shark, because I would have felt that, but maybe I landed close to it and scared it.”

CBS 12 spoke with scientist Dr. Eric Stroud, who had this to say: “If the surfer did land on top of the shark or very close to it, the shark would have likely acted defensively to this. While accidental and certainly unlucky, this is essentially a provoked attack from the shark’s perspective. If the animal was cornered relative to the shore, the surfer’s body and physical contact occurred near the shark’s head, the shark acted as expected. In a provoked attack situation, shark repellents are no longer effective.”

And oooo-ee! A wild claim by Sharkbanz co-founder that Zack “jumped off his board and landed on the shark” and a scientist speaking to theoretical “man jumping on shark” situation sandwich poor Zack’s denial that this is what actually occurred.

Classic victim shaming where the incident becomes partially, if not fully, the victim’s fault.

Stab goes continues on to end their report with a back-pedaling…

The fact remains that these devices are not a guarantee against shark attacks. Nor are they marketed to be. When it comes to sharks, nothing is certain.

…even though just months before the tone could not have been more effusive.

No batteries, no charging, and an unnoticeable amount of extra weight. Plus, of course, the peace of mind that comes with reduced risk. Don’t sleep on this: It ain’t hard to foresee the first release selling out.
Buy here.

So, Stab, which is it? We would like answers. Did you order the Code Red… I mean, did you know that Sharkbanz technology was suspect and actively engage in pushing it on the youth anyhow at $180 – $250 a pop? I think we’re entitled to answers here.

WE WANT THE TRUTH!