Second Family Accuses Disneyland of Racism After Donald Duck Refuses to Hug Their Son
Daily Mail (London), February 9, 2013
The second family in as little as a week has come forward with allegations that a Disneyland character snubbed them because they were black.
The White family said they took their son, Ryder, to Disneyland to celebrate his birthday in December.
The day was going well until Razzi White, 5, walked up to a performer in a Donald Duck costume at the park’s Main Street.
‘He was sitting there with his arms open, saying, ‘Donald, Donald!’ said mother Nastasia White.
Nastasia claims that rather than play with her son, Donald deliberately walked away from him to play with a white baby in a stroller.
The Whites said they waited patiently for their turn – long enough that even the baby’s parents urged Donald to play with Razzi – but Donald ignored them.
Nastasia asked for picture, but says Donald instead went to a young white girl on a bench on hugged her.
Finally the family gave up and left, only to turn back and see Donald hugging the white children that had been waiting behind her.
A second family has come forward with claims that a Disneyland character ignored their children because of the color of their skin.
‘I was upset and hurt. He was very sad,’ she said.
White told reporters at ABC 10 News that Razzi asked her: ”Why didn’t Donald want to take a picture with me?’ Inside, I wanted to cry. This was discrimination.’
She claims it was impossible she misread the situation.
‘I didn’t because it was done in a blatant and ugly way,’ she said.
She complained to the park management and was sent a letter offering her passes to the front of attraction lines for her ‘disappointment.’
The Whites are the second family to accuse the performers of being racist, with a Spring Valley family filing suit against Disneyland, saying that the White Rabbit had ignored their sons, niece, and nephew.
Attorney Dan Gilleon is now representing both families.
‘I’ve gotten many emails and voicemails that I’m looking into. What this tells me is this isn’t an isolated incident. It doesn’t mean Disneyland is racist, but they have some people in the company who aren’t playing by the rules and are being discriminatory,’ GIlleon said.
Gilleon said he’d subpoena Disney for surveillance video of the incidents.
Disney officials said they did not believe the original complaint was about discrimination, only a child being ignored, and would not confirm whether the incidents involved two employees playing different characters.
