Barcelona soccer star undergoes allegations of racist treatment by Disneyland Paris toward his son
In a surprising turn of events, Brazilian soccer star Raphinha has accused a costumed performer at Disneyland Paris of discrimination. The incident occurred on a Saturday, when Raphinha and his young son were waiting to hug a chipmunk character from the Cinderella universe.
The video, shared on social media, shows Raphinha and his son eagerly approaching the character, only for the performer to stand up and brush past the child, leaving him crestfallen. Raphinha expressed his displeasure, posting the video and writing that the employees were a disgrace, and that his son was snubbed.
Raphinha, a star player for FC Barcelona soccer team, questioned why only white children were embraced and his son was not. He further expressed his anger towards Disneyland Paris, stating "I hate you @disneylandparis."
It's important to note that Disneyland Paris asked Raphinha's son to refuse a kiss from the chipmunk character as a health safety precaution, respecting personal space amid ongoing health concerns. The chipmunk character was an employee in costume at Disneyland Paris.
This incident comes amidst another unfortunate event at a Disney park. A 53-year-old Filipino man slipped into a coma and later died after riding the Frozen Ever After ride at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort on Aug. 29.
Raphael Dias Belloli, known as Raphinha, is a Brazilian soccer player who plays forward for Barcelona in Spain's LaLigua league and for his native national team. His father is of Italian descent and his mother is a native Brazilian, according to The Athletic.
While the details of the incident are still being investigated, it has sparked a conversation about discrimination and the treatment of children of colour at theme parks. Disneyland Paris has yet to comment on the matter.
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