Newly released video appears to show a character at Sesame Place Philadelphia denying an interaction to two young Black girls while then greeting people next to the pair, a gesture the family’s lawyer says showed racist intent and contradicts the theme park’s original claims following the incident.
The new video is the latest development in what the family says was a clear example of racial discrimination against the 6-year-olds. B’Ivory LaMarr, the lawyer for the New York family, had telegraphed the release of the new video on Wednesday, saying it would show that the performer intentionally ignored the girls.
The video shows that after passing the girls, the character playing Rosita reached toward another girl – who LaMarr said was white – to give her what appears to be a hug.
"We believe at this point we need to call it for what it is. And if it’s unacceptable, you need to come out and say it’s unacceptable and this was a racist act," LaMarr said.
In the original video, the Black girls are seen excitedly reaching out to the character. Although it appears that the performer had interacted with other children before reaching the girls, the video seems to show the character shaking their head “no” in the direction of the two girls.
Sesame Place originally said the performer’s costume may have made it difficult to see the girls and that the “no” gesture made by the character in the first video was not specifically aimed at the pair. The gesture, the park said, was made in “response to multiple requests from someone in the crowd who asked Rosita to hold their child for a photo which is not permitted.”
“They indicated, they told journalists all across this country, that there was another individual that was holding a child and they requested Rosita to hold that child. That was completely false based off what we believe the video depicts," LaMarr said, referencing the latest video.
Asked for comment about the new video on Friday, the theme park pointed NBC10 to a statement saying that it “wholeheartedly” apologized to the family and that what the girls experienced was “unacceptable” and “antithetical to our values, principles and purpose.”
The park said it was reviewing its practices and instituting mandatory training for all employees to deliver an “equitable” and “inclusive” experience to guests.
“We are committed to learning all we can from this situation to make meaningful change. We want every child who comes to our park to feel included, seen and inspired,” Sesame Place said.
Since the incident occurred, LaMarr said at a Saturday afternoon press conference alongside prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump, more than 150 families have reached out to him and his law firm alleging similar conduct from performers at the park.
The girls’ mother and aunt have demanded the performer be fired. LaMarr said Sesame Place should be made to cover any expenses related to the mental health of the girls, who he said are now dealing with “severe emotional distress.”
Crump said he and LaMarr have been in talks with executives at SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, which owns Sesame Place, about how to do right by the girls and how to ensure SeaWorld becomes "a better company." He also called on the executives to examine whether there is enough diversity and equity "at the highest levels of the company so they can be respectful of all the children that visit their parks."
NBC10 reached out to both SeaWorld and Sesame Place for comment following Saturday's press conference. SeaWorld did not reply and Sesame Place referred NBC10 back to its previous apology.
The ordeal drew a handful of protesters to the Bucks County theme park Saturday.
“This behavior is gonna continue because the behavior comes from the top down. It ain’t the person that’s inside that costume. It’s not them that you gotta change; you gotta change the people that own Sesame Place,” one man told NBC10.
Police arrested two protesters from New Jersey for disorderly conduct and obstruction of highways. The men were issued summary citations and released, according to the Middletown Township Police Department.
