Posted on 01/08/2007 7:10:02 PM PST by MotleyGirl70
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A confrontation between a costumed Tigger and a child at Walt Disney World that led to a sheriff's investigation and the suspension of the character is grabbing national headlines and was featured on CBS's 'The Early Show' Monday.
The incident happened over the weekend when Jerry Monaco, of New Hampshire, and his family visited Disney-MGM Studios. During a photo with a "Tigger" character, the man in the costume, Michael J. Fedelem, was videotaped apparently throwing a punch at Monaco's son, Jerry Jr., Local 6 reported.
Monaco said he took his son to the hospital Saturday to be treated after the alleged hit. Monaco also told Hannah Storm of the "The Early Show" Monday that the character "sucker-punched" his son.
"As we were posing for pictures and I attempted to get in a shot with Tigger when he stuck his arm out and I figured the photographer could get a shot with me and my two little guys," Monaco said. "At that point he started bumping into me, so I started apologizing to him and I figured I would get out of his way because I figured it was hot out and give him some space. So, at that point I backed off and I went to take some home video of the rest of the family with him and that is when you see what happened. Out of nowhere, he ended up clocking my son. He sucker-punched him."
Monaco also told Storm that the costumed character showed annoyance toward a young girl when his handler stepped away just before his family approached.
"There is no question the costumed character hit the teen at Disney," Local 6's Tiffany Tift said. "But what is in question is the motive."
Some are calling the punch an accident and others said the video shows retaliation by the Tigger character, Local 6 News reported.
In a statement made to the sheriff's office, Fedelem said he was acting in self-defense. He claims that the child was pulling on his costume, causing him to lose his breath, according to the Local 6 News report.
Monaco filed an incident report with the Orange County Sheriff's Office and the department is investigating the incident.
"You don't come here for this," Monaco said. "Disney is supposed to be a safe place. It is supposed to be a place where you come and spend time with your family. How hard did he hit you, (son)?"
"Pretty hard," Jerry Monaco Jr. replied. "I could still feel it even though he was wearing the padded gloves."
Monaco said he noticed the alleged attack was unprovoked after looking at the video.
"At first I was upset at my son," the elder Monaco said. "I thought he did something to Tigger. But then I review it and it is pretty clear, for no reason he just clocked him in the face."
Disney officials called the family after the incident, the report said.
"I just wanted to follow up with you and let you know that we have spoken to the cast member in question and have reacted very strongly toward him," a man who identified himself as Jean Erik Redrupp, general manager of Park Operations at Disney-MGM Studios, said in a phone recording.
Disney also released a statement over the incident: "We received the complaint alleging that a character struck a guest; guest and character altercation is not tolerated. The Orange County sheriff is launching an investigation and we are conducting our own investigation and we have suspended the cast member pending the outcome."
"The general manager apologized to me," the elder Monaco said. "Everybody will come up and apologize to me but Tigger. He won't be a man about it and get out of the costume and come out and apologize to my son. I didn't want VIP treatment. I didn't want an extra day at Disney. I didn't want any of that. I wanted him to apologize and that is the one thing that they won't do."
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
"... and who told you to put the balm on? Did I tell you to put the balm on?"
When the kid starts pulling down, the costume's chin looks like it snaps back and Tigger's hands go right to his head/neck as though something was wrong. Since the person wearing the costume sees out of the costume's eyes, he is essentially blinded. He turns to his right, and with his hands already up, contacts the kid in the chops. I doubt Tigger even saw the kid as he turned because his costume isn't "right" again until picture 8 or 9. The hit wasn't hard because the kid was already off balance and didn't fall over.
IMHO, the kid and his father should be banned from the park, and Tig deserves an apology.
"A Tigger?? A Tigger tells you to put a balm on, and you do it? Do you know what a balm does?"
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