After a high-profile case of alleged racial discrimination against two black girls, SeaWorld is being sued over other alleged cases of “pervasive and appalling” discrimination against children at Sesame Place Philadelphia.
Named plaintiffs in the lawsuit are Baltimore, Maryland, residents Quinton Burns and his 5-year-old daughter, who claim four performers refused to engage with the girl and other black children during a meet and greet last month. According to the suit, the artists engaged “easily” with “many” white children.
“Racism is horrific when it is perpetrated against adults, but it is in a separate category of horror when it is perpetrated against children who cannot fight back and who must struggle to understand how bad it is and how it must be eradicated in every way. of American life,” William Murphy, one of the Burns family’s attorneys, said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon in Philadelphia.
The plaintiffs are seeking at least $25 million in damages from SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment — which owns Sesame Place — on behalf of all Black people who visited Sesame Place since July 27, 2018 and “suffered disparate treatment” by SeaWorld employees who they ignored black kids. “while interacting with similarly situated white children.”
They demand a jury trial.
The lawsuit states that on or about June 18, Burns purchased two tickets to the Bucks County, Pennsylvania, theme park, which entitled him and his daughter to a meet and greet. They tried to participate in a meet-and-greet, but the performers — dressed as Elmo, Ernie, Telly Monster and Abby Cadabby — ignored them and other black children while interacting with white children, the lawsuit alleges.
“SeaWorld breached its contracts with the Burns and class members when, solely because of their race or color, and through and through its agents and/or employees, it publicly and subtly denied Plaintiffs the opportunity to experience of Sesame’s meet and greet. Street suit character performers as promised,” according to the suit.
The lawsuit also alleges that SeaWorld knew the performers were racially biased against black people.
The Burnses filed the lawsuit after seeing a viral video of another incident of alleged discrimination that happened to a New York family. That video showed a performer dressed as the character Rosita seemingly ignoring two young black girls while then approaching another girl – who the family’s lawyer said was white – and hugging her.
The family’s attorney, B’Ivory LaMarr, called the incident a “racist act.” The girls’ mother and aunt called for the performer to be fired, but she said she would prefer to avoid a lawsuit. LaMarr said Sesame Place should be made to cover any expenses related to the mental health of the girls, who he said are now experiencing “severe emotional distress.”
Sesame Place initially said that the performer’s costume may have made it difficult to see the girls, and that the character’s “no” gesture in the first video was not specifically aimed at the couple. The gesture, the park said, was made in “response to multiple requests from someone in the crowd asking Rosita to hold their child for a photo which is not allowed.”
Asked for comment on the new video on July 22, the theme park showed NBC10 in a statement saying it “wholeheartedly” apologized to the family and that what the girls experienced was “unacceptable” and “contrary to its values, principles and our purpose. “
The park said it is reviewing its practices and establishing mandatory training for all employees to provide guests with a “fair” and “inclusive” experience.
Since then, other families have complained of racism at Sesame Place Philadelphia. LaMarr said more than 150 families have contacted him and his law firm alleging similar behavior by park performers. The company has determined that many claims are not substantial, but continues to review them and talk to potential customers.
Meanwhile, Burns, the plaintiff from Maryland, said he was “hurt” and “devastated” by his daughter’s alleged treatment.
The lawsuit also seeks an order requiring SeaWorld to implement mandatory cultural sensitivity training for its employees.
“We will review the lawsuit filed on behalf of Mr. Burns,” Sesame Place said in response to the lawsuit on Wednesday. “We look forward to addressing this allegation through the appropriate legal process. We are committed to providing an inclusive, fair and entertaining experience for all of our guests.”
