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

[The Straight Story]

Home Video Shows 'Tigger' Character Apparently Punching Boy's Face
Orange County Sheriff's Office, Disney Launch Investigations

POSTED: 9:39 pm EST January 6, 2007

ORLANDO, Fla. -- 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."

http://www.local6.com/news/10685989/detail.html

[KittyWampus]

1. Looks like a set up? Tiggers are wonderful things....

[The Straight Story]

2. Watching the video it looks like an accident

Like maybe he was trying to hug him and missed.

[KittyWampus]

4. at the link, there are other stories about Tiggers who've been accused

I think certain really hyper or active characters at Disney might be moving/horsing around.

Someone gets in the way or misinterprets something and it's molestation or assault.

[Mizmoon]

10. I hear they're quite bouncy as well

quite bouncy indeed. :bounce:

[poiuytsister]

11. And fun fun fun fun fun n/t

[Cooley Hurd]

3. Sure doesn't look intentional to me...

:shrug:

[leftchick]

5. give me a break

that looks totally innocent. He knew he was being videoed for gos sakes! The people complaining look like they are hoping for a lot of money over a minor incident.

America, doncha love it? :puke:

[Sean138666]

6. Really minor stuff

There are more important things Disney should be sued for, such as Path to 9/11

[Buzz Clik]

34. What ca-ca.

You can clearly see the kid yanking on the Tigger.

I love the quote about hard the punch was: "Pretty hard. I could still feel it even though he was wearing padded gloves."

Considering that, the kid and his family are all acting like a bunch of pussies who want to get paid.

[C_U_L8R]

7. the kid was grinning the whole time

looks like they got caught up...
betya the kids was pulling tiggers tail
or something. Silly people.

[Hardrada]

8. I think Goofy is the one you have to watch out for.

[whistle]

9. Disney cast member going postal

[Lerkfish]

12. having worn a character costume before, let me tell you, your vision is

severely restricted. That's why most in character getup have a person with them, helping them move around. Usually the eyehole is the mouth, which, depending on the character, can be like looking through a keyhole.

[Texasgal]

13. I'm trying to figure out

where tiger hit him??? :shrug:

It looks like he was moving his hand upwards.

[Junkdrawer]

14. Made CBS Morning Show...Who ever the father is, he has a great press agent.

You read the print and expect to see a little boy being punched, then you look at the video and you say "Jesus, he hardly touched the kid." And the kid was taller than Tigger.

[Marie26]

15. I'm struggling to care

The father showed up on the CBS Morning Show, lawyer in tow. No doubt they'll be suing Disney for a nice settlement.

[ProfessorGAC]

18. I'm Struggling Just To Find. . .

. . . the slightest reason to care. This is news?
The Professor

[Marie26]

20. It's news cause there's video.

See a Tigger-thumping at 10:00!

[ProfessorGAC]

26. Alas, You Are Correct

Anything with a visual is sure to make the news, no matter how unimportant.
The Professor

[sniffa]

16. another exampLe of the dangers of crystaL meth

[Junkdrawer]

17. This is SO obvious a setup and is getting SO much play...

that it may be the next "McDonald's Coffee" tort reform poster child.

Let's see.

[devilgrrl]

19. What a bunch of hooey!

:eyes:

[edhopper]

21. I find this very haunting.

Especially the other children chanting "Mickey! Mickey!" while they haul Tigger up the steps. Sure, Tigger has a hyperactive past and needs to pay for all the bouncing, but there was no dignity in how they treated him.
Mark my words, costumed characters around the world will see Tigger as a Martyr. No matter how many children he has slapped.

[The Stranger]

24. This was clearly a terrorist act, assuming, that is,

that Tigger isn't White.

[mainegreen]

22. Punching? Is this a joke? Perhaps an accident because its hard to see in those things?

*CLEARLY* an accident. Jesus, some people need a reality check. Any medical damage? No?
Greedy parents looking for a handout perhaps?

[The Stranger]

23. It was just a bit of slapstick comedy.

Besides, maybe the kid deserved it.

[slackmaster]

25. Furries Gone Wild? When Furries Attack? Revenge of the Furries?

:shrug:

[mtnsnake]

27. That was more like a love tap, barely even a push

The brat probably deserved whatever it was he got. Notice the kid's left hand is behind Tigger. Wonder what the kid was doing with it.

[rpgamerd00d]

28. As a Black Belt in Tang Soo Do, this was not a punch.

Consider me an expert witness.

This wasn't a punch.

His right hand wrapped around the kids, putting it into an arm lock. This was to remove the kids arm from tiggers back.
He then spun right, and tried to grab the kids arm with his left hand, but due to the large, bulky costume, the hand hit the kid in the face as tigger was reaching for the kids arm.
If you look at the force Tigger applies instantly after the so-called punch, you see him push on the kids left shoulder as he releases the arm lock.

In addition to all that, you can see from the start, that Tiggers legs are spread very wide, and he has very little balance. You can clearly see Tigger lose balance during the maneuver, which attributed to the accidental face contact.

Case closed.

[jpwhite]

29. it's donald you have to watchout for

Watch out for the duck! Donald is the one with the temper and when he's mad, watch out!!!

James
[e-mail]

[Rosemary2205]

30. Hopefully we aren't witnessing the end of Disney character meetings

It will certainly be interesting to see if the unedited tape is ever played. Kinda hard to tell what happened and the kid in the suit has clearly been told to shut up and let the management handle it.

[Lex]

31. Looked accidental to me. Tigger was trying to catch his balance

and not fall over the little rail behind him.

Not sure what the kid did beforehand, but it looks like something happened just before to throw Tigger off balance.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

32. Looks like tigger was falling over backward.

Mostly because the kid was leaning into him. Tigger tried to balance himself, kid got in the way.

Imagine how much crap that kid's going to get back at school now that this is public. "Dude, you got your ass kicked by Tigger!"

[dogday]

33. It does not look like Tigger is punching this kid

more like he was playing around.. At most this is an accident and Tigger should apologize if he hurt the kid at all...