COMING SOON:

COMING SOON:
Watch Trailers To 'New Moon,' More

°

Homepage / Orlando News
Text Size

Home Video Shows 'Tigger' Character Apparently Punching Boy's Face

Orange County Sheriff's Office, Disney Launch Investigations

POSTED: Saturday, January 6, 2007
UPDATED: 4:14 pm EST January 7, 2007

Home video of a costumed Tigger character apparently punching a boy in the face and knocking him back at a Walt Disney World theme park has prompted an Orange County Sheriff's investigation into the incident and led to the suspension of the cast member, according to a Local 6 News report.

The Monaco family of New Hampshire said they were visiting a Disney theme park and posing for a photo with Tigger when the character landed a hard punch.

"You don't come here for this," father Jerry 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," Monaco Sr. 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."

Monaco said he did not provoke the attack and just had his arm around the costumed character when the incident happened.

"No provoking at all," Monaco said. "It was just out of the blue."

Disney officials called the family, 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.

"The general manager apologized to me," Monaco Sr. 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."

"It is clear the two made physical contact," Local 6's Samantha Knapp said. "An investigation into who did what is under way."

Disney as well as the Orange County Sheriff's Office launched investigations into the incident Saturday.

The cast member, Michael J. Fedelem, was suspended by Disney pending the investigation, according to an AP report.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

Sponsored Links

Links We Like
Sponsored Content
You can pick your friends, but not your family -- or your neighbors. Here's what you need to know about how to deal with yours. More

Find out what a sputtering economy and an increasingly difficult to crack job market means to you. More

Are you often tired or rushed in the morning? Give your morning habits a makeover, and start the day feeling positive and energetic instead. More

If you're looking to save on your next new vehicle, a low sticker price is just one aspect. Consider all the costs and make the right decision. More

Most Popular