"Tigger" Accused Of Molesting Girl At Disney

[phyllisnnj]

"A man who works at Walt Disney World - as the costumed character "Tigger" - has been charged with molesting a 13-year-old girl and her mother.

They say it happened while he was posing with them for pictures."

http://www.local6.com/news/2971289/detail.html

 

[CarolA]

I am sorry, but I am somehow suppose to believe that standing IN PUBLIC this person in a costume was able to do this much damage.

Sorry, but I find this one hard to believe. If Tigger had taken the child away maybe, but..... I think this is a money grab pure and simple.

While I could buy the girl being embarrased and not saying anything why was Mom so quite. Why didn't she slap Tigger across the face THEN. Nope, she waits a few months and then complains.

Anyone taking bets on when Mom and daughter sue Disney?

 

[Pa@okw95]

My brothers, full grown adults, got some very "friendly" attention from "Chip" and "Dale". What bothered them about it was they were not 100 percent sure that Chip and Dale were female. This took place at the Garden Restaurant during character lunch. I t happen more than once during the same meal with them coming back for another session of friendly behavior. I laughed my head off. I was at the other end of the table. With their doubts they did not think it was as funny as I did. We still talk about it once in awhile when talking about that trip to WDW.

 

[Disney Doll]

So you wait a month to tell the world that tigger fondled you?

Gee, maybe we are going to have to sue Disney for the emotional trauma??? Do you think Disney has any money??? Would it be worth our while to sue?????

 

[colleen costello]

This is unfortunate and ugly. I always wonder how they see anything from those suits -- is it possible this Tigger touched inappropriately without realizing? That said, I am leery of discounting what a kid says.. too many times adults don't "listen" to legit claims by kids about such horrors... A sad situation all around.

 

[adam185]

According to another news report that I just read:

http://www.wftv.com/news/2971278/detail.html

The incident happened on 2/21 and was reported by the girl's father to police on 2/29, but I tend to agree with the earlier comments...if the same thing happened to the mother, why did she not act. I would also believe that it may have been innocent. I'm withholding any judgements until I get more facts.

On a lighter note, the car is packed and we hit the road for Hilton Head in about 12 hours.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
My brothers, full grown adults, got some very "friendly" attention from "Chip" and "Dale".

Chip and Dale tend to be a bit frisky, in my experience.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

They waited a few days, and were still on vacation when they filed a complaint. I'm not saying who is guilty -- I wasn't there so I don't know, but here's my take....

It troubled me, too, that the mom didin't react on the spot, but I can see how it can happen. When something like this happens and it is COMPLETELY unexpected, the vicitm would be shocled an confused and even self-doubting. The thoughts would likely be something like this, "Wow. That made me VERY uncomfortable, could this be happening? Am I crazy? Surely Tigger didn't just fondle me..." And she's on vaction, doesn't want to make a big scene in front of her family....come to hear her daughter is upset and the same thing happened to her...now the inner-debate of whether or not to complain. They are on vacation, etc....

So in thinking about it, I could see where someone *might* take a few days to decide to complain.

And then, if you read the charging affidavit published in The Sentil, there was some weird details regarding Tigger. He laimed Dyslexia causes him to have trouble remembering events, past and present (huh?), and he presented the police with SEVERAL envelopes of photot, after admitting that he has somone take photos of him while he's in character. It was after seeing the photos that the police arrested him! Hmmm....And he was a "fairly new" employee. That all sounds pretty suspicious to me.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Do they do background checks on employees before hiring them to be around so many children?

 

[RadioNate]

I always wonder how they see anything from those suits -- is it possible this Tigger touched inappropriately without realizing?

in my educated opinion this is VERY possible. Visability is extreamly limited and preferial vision is nearly non-existant. I don't know if this guys is innocent or not but I do think it is possible that he could have done it w/out realizing what he was rubbing.

 

[dsmith]

News accounts indicate the alleged assault took place while photos were being taken.... where are they? It seems like the pictures would shed some light on this.

 

[KNWVIKING]

***"I always wonder how they see anything from those suits -- is it possible this Tigger touched inappropriately without realizing? "***

I doubt it. For one,these charactor go thru some extensive training so "accidents" don't happen.

The fact he had someone in the park taking those fotos to me implies his acts were premeditated, not just some random moment of weakness. We all know about Flash Mountain, maybe there is some other perverted site with fotos of charactors molesting kids. Very scary.

 

[lenshanem]

Wow. And seeing the pic of "Tigger" really ruined it for me.

 

[Samirella]

Originally posted by SnoWhiteRabbit
he presented the police with SEVERAL envelopes of photot, after admitting that he has somone take photos of him while he's in character. It was after seeing the photos that the police arrested him! Hmmm....And he was a "fairly new" employee. That all sounds pretty suspicious to me.

This is actually common in WDW Entertainment. Performers like to have pictures of themselves performing.

 

[wilderness01]

Sad if true. Sad if not true.

 

[GrimGhost]

Sad if true. Sad if not true.

Yes, and perhaps when all this is done Characters won't be able to have any physical contact with anyone (too much liability). I am NOT trying to be insensitve, especially if it IS true, but in this very letigious world.....

 

[magicmouse2]

I go to WDW to escape from the evils of the real world I am glad my DH comes with us. He always takes the photos too so I know the kids are ok when they are with the characters.

 

[disneychick05]

Originally posted by lenshanem
Wow. And seeing the pic of "Tigger" really ruined it for me.

Seeing the guy's picture definitely ruined it for me as well. He just looks creepy...but you would never know because on the outside it's just Tigger to a family posing for pictures. The good thing is that I have faith that Disney will do all the can to make sure this doen't happen again. However, some things are just out of the control of Disney so you never know what could happen.

 

[Antiguan]

The first thought is "Law suit, money, I know where they are coming from"
But as you hear and see more you have to second guess it. The guy looks like a total perv. And I can see that characters would want pictures taken of themselves, but I doubt the police arrested the guy because of a few pictures. It had to be an incriminating amount.
Also, it is very easy to see that the girl may not have said anything to her mother immediately. She may have said something tentatively later and the mother said, "Hey, he did that to me as well"

 

[KimberAnn]

Can someone please explain to me how someone looks like a pervert? Can you really tell a person's sexual deviancies (or not) from a mug shot?