One-star pan becomes a cash cow: US whaling museum sees orders surge 250% after turning scathing review into merch

A whaling museum in New Bedford, Massachusetts, is selling out merchandise emblazoned with a one-star review that called it "the worst aquarium ever."

According to the AP, CBS News and other media, the review was posted in 2020, when a visitor rated the museum "the worst aquarium of all time" and gave it the lowest possible score.

The museum has no aquarium. What it does have is bones — the skeletal remains of a blue whale measuring about 20 meters in length, along with humpback, North Atlantic right whale and sperm whale skeletons on display. For a visitor expecting fish tanks, the place was heavy on bones.

Museum director Ashley McMullen told reporters the review circulated among staff for some time and became a running joke. The staff member who designed the merchandise said the idea came from a barbecue restaurant that had printed a one-star review complaining about the lack of vegan options on its T-shirts.

Since last fall, the museum has been selling T-shirts and hoodies with the line printed on the back and a whale skeleton illustration on the front.

The items entered the top five in sales rankings as soon as they went on sale. A TikTok video posted in November last year has been viewed more than 96,000 times.

In a twist, the museum installed a 950-liter saltwater tank earlier this year. McMullen described it as a "humble aquarium." Placed in the center of the first floor, the tank is home to blue crabs, starfish and puffer fish — though no live whales.

The museum installed the tank in partnership with the University of Massachusetts School for Marine Science and Technology. The museum said it plays an important role in discussions about ecosystems and coastal water quality.