As outrage on social media grew, Sesame Place issued an apology after a mother shared a video that purportedly showed a Rosita-costumed staffer declining to high-five her two young Black daughters over the weekend.
The video went viral Sunday after the woman posted it on Instagram. The seconds-long clip quickly spread, causing debate on whether the move was because of the girls’ race or because of the character being unable to see or take time to stop.
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The Rosita character is seen high-fiving White parade goers in the video, which was uploaded to Instagram under the user name “Jodi,” before it appears the character is gesturing “no” to the woman’s Black daughters.
“We were on our way out of Sesame Place and the kids wanted to stop to see the characters. THIS DISGUSTING person blatantly told our kids NO then proceeded to hug the little white girl next to us!” the mother wrote on her Instagram post. “Then when I went to complain about it, they looking at me like I’m crazy. I asked the last who the character was and I wanted to see a supervisor and she told me SHE DIDNT KNOW!!”
In a statement posted on social media Monday evening, Sesame Place said the following:
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“We sincerely apologize to the family for their experience in our park on Saturday; we know that it’s not OK. We are taking actions to do better. We are committed to making this right. We will conduct training for our employees so they better understand, recognize and deliver an inclusive, equitable and entertaining experience to our guests. For over 40 years Sesame Place has worked to uphold the values of respect, inclusion and belonging. We are committed to doing a better job making children and families feel special, seen and included when they come to our parks.”
Sesame Workshop, which licenses their brand to Sea World for use at Sesame Place in Middletown Township, issued the below statement:
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“Sesame Workshop is aware of the recent incident at Sesame Place Philadelphia, which we take very seriously. What these children experienced is unacceptable. We have been in contact with Sesame Place, our licensed park partner, and they have assured us that they will conduct bias training and a thorough review of the ways in which they engage with families and guests. As a global nonprofit education organization with a mission to help children grow smarter, stronger and kinder. Sesame Workshop has always stood for respect, inclusion and belonging and is committed to providing the highest quality engaging experiences for all children and families. We hold our partners to the same high standards. We will continue working with our longterm partner Sesame Place to ensure that appropriate actions are taken and that incidents like this do not happen in the future.”
On Sunday evening as the video went viral, Sesame Place issued an initial statement that said the character ignoring the girls was not intentional and a “misunderstanding.”
The theme park’s first post stated the performer in the costume was “devastated” about the incident.
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Sesame Place added that the character costumes make it challenging to view children at lower levels.
Online entertainment site TMZ reported Tuesday that the family is working with Texas-based civil rights attorney B’Ivory LaMarr.
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The attorney told the outlet a lawsuit is possible, but the firm is investigating the incident and talking to witnesses.
Following the story breaking nationally, several videos that appear to show characters avoiding other children of color have popped up online.
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LevittownNow.com readers sounded off on the controversy.
“My kids get ignored all the time during the parade. We went yesterday and my daughter was skipped over 3 times while those around us got hugs and high fives each time. It is what it is. Plus, the parade isn’t really the time for that. If you want the hugs from the characters go to the meet and greets they have all the time,” reader Allison Penaranda wrote on Facebook.
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“I thought it wasnt intentional until i saw 4 diff videos of that parade and 4 diff times the black children were passed but acknowledged every white one on both sides of them…,” Dawn Bennett said on Facebook.
“I have worked at sesame and have been in those costumes. They are hard to see out of, you can’t see directly in front of you, she was telling other people no too and they can’t hug and high five everyone. My kids are white and they have been rejected of a high five now and then because the characters also have to be in a certain area at a certain time. Like when they do the meet and greets they can’t say “hi” until they get to their post and in the parade they have to keep up and be in between certain floats for safety reasons,” said Devon Titus.
“So let’s put the parents that are complaining in the costume in 90 degree weather and see if they can do it any better. Life is full of disappointments get over it !!!!!” Kelly Harris-Carroll wrote on social media.
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