Tigger hits kid ???

MouseMan · Post by **MouseMan** » Jan Mon 15, 2007 12:23 pm

Don't all the characters have another CM that is with them to handle kids that get a little out of line? I'd like know if anyone else had seen this and has a version of it. At any rate just by the video you can tell the kid was doing something to Tiggr behind his back.

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Jan Mon 15, 2007 1:46 pm

MouseMan wrote:Don't all the characters have another CM that is with them to handle kids that get a little out of line? I'd like know if anyone else had seen this and has a version of it. At any rate just by the video you can tell the kid was doing something to Tiggr behind his back.

Yeah, there are the character attendants that wear the yellow and black outfits. They're usually within a few feet of the characters.

Post by **subsonic** » Jan Tue 16, 2007 11:28 am

I looked at the video again with my wife last night. If you don't pay attention to the actual "hit" and just look at Tigger's torso and arms, you can see that he's just trying to reach for the kids arm to pull it away and loses his balance.

Post by **rdeacon** » Jan Tue 16, 2007 2:18 pm

The kid is trying to do something he is not supposed to.

This sheds some more light on the story:

mouseplanet.com wrote:Tigger incident update

Further information regarding the "Tigger attacks boy" story from last week has called the incident into even more question. Close examination of the video shows Jerry Monaco, Jr., continued grinning after being hit by Tigger, and playfully smacking Tigger on the head. Closer examination shows that Tigger appears to be trying to get his hand on Monaco's left shoulder to push him away.

Some reports indicate that Monaco had stuck his hand up inside Tigger's head and was pulling on the cowl used to block the performer's neck when Tigger's head leans forward. The police report (PDF file) indicates that the cast member "had lost sight of his spotter" and that Monaco "put his arm over Tigger's shoulder pulling his costume back and knocking him off balance. The head portion of the costume pulled back making it hard for him to breath [sic] so he left the area to get the costume adjusted." That would make it sound as if the performer had tried to avoid implying that Monaco did it on purpose, which would seem at odds with the other evidence.

We have had an ongoing discussion, where member "dolphinkiss21" wrote:

"I know the CM that was 'Tigger' personally... He used to work as my coordinator for attractions in another location. There is absolutely NO WAY that Tigger did this maliciously. The personality of the gentleman in the costume is so far from being able to harm anyone it's not funny. From the video and what I know of the costumes, the kid was reaching back to either try to push the head off, unzip the back of the costume, or both at the same time. Tigger locked his arm, which is a tactic used when a guest is doing something unkind behind the character's back. When Tigger turned to try to dislodge his arm from the kid you can see that the kid hangs onto something for dear life 'cause the kid is almost pulled over when Tigger turns. All Tigger did was try to effectively shake the kid off him and in doing so accidentally, if at all, bumped the kid and as you can see from the video the kid retaliates immediately and wails him in the head.

Rich

Post by **subsonic** » Jan Thu 18, 2007 12:00 pm

I hope the kid is sued along with the father.

RiaLucia · Post by **RiaLucia** » Jan Sat 20, 2007 3:12 pm

Lion Sleeps Tonight wrote:
MouseMan wrote:Don't all the characters have another CM that is with them to handle kids that get a little out of line? I'd like know if anyone else had seen this and has a version of it. At any rate just by the video you can tell the kid was doing something to Tiggr behind his back.
Yeah, there are the character attendants that wear the yellow and black outfits. They're usually within a few feet of the characters.

Yep, they're called character greeters. I've known a few and they say that it can get brutal defending the character, especially Buzz Lightyear. For some reason, the plastic costume makes some of the more unruly ones want to take a shot at him.

Anyway, back on point: Tigger was clearly reacting to something. The suddenness of the movement was definitely a knee-jerk. It makes me upset when media blows something up like this.

Post by **js3901** » Jan Wed 24, 2007 7:50 am

I was just browsing around the internet and came across the Local 6 website, which looks to be the CBS affiliate in Central Florida. They have a couple of videos up on the site, at least one of which gives a god idea as to what may have happened. In addition, and most interesting, they have a PDF copy of the incident report from the Orange County Sherrif department.

You can see the site, read the story, and view the videos/PDF file here: http://www.local6.com/news/10685989/detail.html

Sarah Turp · Post by **Sarah Turp** » Jan Wed 24, 2007 10:00 am

I think its pathetic. How many adults do you know that would just randomly decide to punch a kid for no reason, especially if they are at work! It is obvious that Tigger must have been provoked in someway. The only explanations are that the kid did something unintentionly and possible without realising that they had done anything wrong and Tigger reacted....unlikely... or the kid was trying to tamper with the costume i.e. undo the zip or somthing.

Either way, I see no reason for Tigger to have to apologise for being almost made to fall over. As for being severlly repremanded

The guy was just doing his job and as unfortunate to have to pose with some punk kid who think it's cool to try and spoil the magic for others by trying to unmask the characters.

Sorry, but this sort of thing really makes me cross!

Post by **js3901** » Jan Wed 24, 2007 11:28 am

If you read the police report, it says that the CM was having trouble breathing because the kid pulled back on the costume, which caused the head to fall back, cutting off his air.

As far as the hit, watch the "lawyer video". It's prety much video of some testimony given back in the 2004 groping case, but its pretty relevent in this case as well..

thecleverarachnid · Post by **thecleverarachnid** » Jan Wed 31, 2007 9:20 pm

Has anybody here ever been smacked by a character? It happens to me all the time, they move to hand me a book or hug me and I position myself improperly and get a smack to the face. It's not a huge deal, I don't think. Unless this smack was particularly hard.

Post by **acp** » Feb Thu 01, 2007 5:06 am

heh, yes

And I have a photo of the moment, too: http://www.andrewpoole.org.uk/disney/ph ... et153.html

Andy

Post by **rdeacon** » Feb Thu 01, 2007 10:42 am

acp wrote:heh, yes

And I have a photo of the moment, too: http://www.andrewpoole.org.uk/disney/ph ... et153.html

Andy

Yeah but you were asking for it!

HAHAHA

Rich

Post by **acp** » Feb Thu 01, 2007 11:28 am

I was? How? All I did was walk up to them, stand in the middle and wait for them to take the pictures, and he hit me!

Now, where did I put my lawyer...

Andy

Post by **Dr. Ravenscroft** » Feb Thu 01, 2007 2:45 pm

Hey Andrew if you take away the top 2 finger of Dale's hand you can get a good idea of what you would look like with a goatee.

thecleverarachnid · Post by **thecleverarachnid** » Feb Fri 02, 2007 4:01 pm

Tee hee. I never got any pictures of myself getting smacked.

Nice picture, though