Tigger Accused Of Hitting Teen (Hundred Acre Woods now in the 'Axis of Evil')

Culture & Society Forum

Tigger Accused Of Hitting Teen
Disney World Officials Suspend Actor Who Plays Character

(CBS) When the Monaco family traveled from New Hampshire to Florida all they wanted was a nice time at Disney World. Instead, they say, one of their sons got a punch on the head from the loveable Winnie the Pooh character, Tigger.

Home video footage shows Jerry Monaco Jr. standing next to Tigger, played by Michael J. Fedelem, as the family posed with the character Saturday. Then the character appears to smack the teen in the face.

"I attempted to get in a shot with Tigger when he stuck his arm out and I figured the photographer could get a shot with two little guys," father Jerry Monaco told The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm. "At that point he started bumping into me and I apologized and I figured it was hot out and give him some space. At that point I backed off and went to take some home video of the rest of the family and, out of nowhere, he sucker-punched my son."

Now an investigation is underway. A spokeswoman says park officials have temporarily suspended the employee while they investigate the accusations. In a statement, Disney World said: "We received the complaint alleging that a character struck a guest; guest and character altercation is not tolerated. The Orange County sheriff is launching an investigation and we are conducting our own investigation and we have suspended the cast member pending the outcome."

Monaco said that before he tried to take a photo Tigger appeared irritated when a little girl attempted to get an autograph.

"So at that point he's waving and got his pen," Monaco said. "I didn't know what was going on. I figured out that it wasn't on a clear sheet of paper, he couldn't sign it. So I thought, 'No big deal.' Then my family came up, they were two or three people behind them. That's when this whole thing took place."

Monaco took his son to the hospital that night after he woke up with a pain in his neck.

"I'm a little sore and most of the pain is gone because I have medicine," Jerry Monaco Jr. said.

The family's attorney, Mark Morsch, said the family wants an apology from the park and from the actor who played Tigger.

"It was their dream to come to Disney," Morsch said. "They were looking forward to it and had no idea they would be in a situation where Tigger was going to hit their son."

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Poor Tigger...he cant help it that he uncontrollably bounces. Maybe it was just a bounce from his springy tail that went out of control.

Geez.

I wonder what made the guy lash out he must get hundreds of people wanting thier picture taken with him every day I don't know if something was said even if it was it is no excuse.
Maybe he was irritatd but if you get irritated don't work at Disney world one of the most irritating places on earth

I'd choke a kid if I worked there. I feel bad for those people. Wearing heavy, hot ass suits while thousands of jerky kids paw on you.

When I was 16 or so I *barely* smacked a Gummy Bear character at Disneyland and ran. Funny at the time.

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Florida is super humid, even this time of year. Brings out the worst in folks.

Mascot abuse will not be tolerated. Sicko people on the world I tell you what.

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Dude was making minimum wage. Excuse to rough up a teenager?

Maybe not. But it was hot and humid, and he was poor.

Didn't look like to me he roughed up the kid. Just another sucker family trying to sucker Disneyland.

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IMO there is no excuse no matter what business you are in you don't lash out at customers. Also the guy is a coward do you thik he would have lashed out if the kid was actually a man who was 6ft+ and weighed 300lbs no danger cos he would have got his ass kicked.

For one, my pal Mys: comedy once again

Lodge, have you seen the video? Not to mention- have you ever worked retail. Not only that but American retail?

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No I have not seen the video but from what I have read the kid was hit on the back of the head by this guy.
I don't care what you do and waht country you do it in but it is NEVER justifiable to lay your ahnds on a child, if he was being attacked by an adult then of course diffrent story but that does not seem to be the case.

Sometimes jerky kids need their head slapped. Now I wouldn't want my kids to be head slapped by a stranger, but it wouldn't come to that point because I would do it myself. Dumb ass parents let their kids run around like fools, don't discipline them, give up and put them on meds. Meanwhile a good head slap would set them strait.

Anyway, here is the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeXbId2P6Yc

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I read the headline and thought that this was a joke. Surprising that it is real. Then again, I can understand where the guy is coming from. Those suits are hot and uncomfortable and the people aren't paid very much to wear them, and then you get little punk kids like Heck who hit you and run away, or like me when I was at Disneyland (very young here) who look through the eye part and see the person's face and start yelling, "You're not Mickey! You're just a person in a suit! Where's Mickey?!" The guy should have taken a break before he got to the point where he hit a guest, though.

That was no punch, no attack. He barely touched his face with his paw.

No whiplash of the kids head while touched. Just silly.

Agreed. The way this con artist family was talking Tigger turned into Ali and boxed the kid up. Another middle class hack trying to get a payday. Barely a step above the Wendy's finger in the chili lady.

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It was sad. couldn't call it a hit or a slap. Most you could say it was is a gentle face touch.


Tell the truth, when they interviewed the punk kid, I had the urge to slap him for real.

Same here. Little turd boy. And isn't he a little old to be taking pictures with men dressed up as cartoon characters?

At a certain age you gotta quit it.

Like collecting baseball cards. When you hit your teen years the realization has to set it that you are buying pictures of men playing a game.

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I bet he gets beat up at school now for real.

So if it was your kids you would see it as an appropriate action and just walk away?

Well, since nothing happened in that video, yeah, I would walk away. If the dude actually hit my kid I'd lay the smack down, whether my kid deserved it or not.

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Exactly. In hindsight the kid got off easy.

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That link was from FOX NEWS.

Booooooo, hisssssssssss.

I think the Tigger dude should sue the parents for having a jerk kid.

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What kind of father films an attack of his kid anyhow? If it would have been a real attack, any normal dad would lower the camera and promptly kick Tigger's ass.


Plus, it's hard to tell, but junior looked like he was laughing right after he got "hit".

get his money kid!
guy watches too much dtv porno not to share the warmth

I clicked the link but youtube was down for updates. Ill have to watch it later I guess.

Doesnt sound like its anything major....I figured as much.

I swear...people will sue for anything these days. I mean when is enough, enough. I hope that soon, people will get sick of these lunatics by giving them NOTHING!

it looked like the guy was trying to get the kids arm off of him. i dont think he intentionally hit the kid but if you watch it looked like he tred to shake the kid off and then like he was reaching for his arm and accidently kid the kid in the process.
the vidoe i saw orriginally just showed the kid getting smacked in the face.

being a parent, i don't care if it was a little tap or a punch, you don't put your hands on my child. i'd be kickin ass but I wouldn't sue. but that doesn't look like what happened here. it appears to be an accident.

I saw the video earlier this week, if I were that kid's classmate, I'd make fun of him for being an idiot trying to get money out of Disney. Tigger should have pulled an Ali on the family, then they would have something to complain about.

Exactly, ICB. I would clown this fool until the end of time. Not to mention he went to the hospital later, no doubt furthering his little scam.

There are people that have gotten seriously hurt and Disneyland. These hacks are going to hurt the actual people who need help.

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Kid: I was very lightly rubbed by Tigger's paw, as he gently dragged his velvety paw across my face.


Doctor: Get the outta my office.

You're a velvety paw!

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I prefer the term "Iron Mike."

How about "The Southern Dandy"

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Aint floatin my boat. But you can call me The Midwestern Maniac.

Okay, we will agree on the "South of the Mississippi Suckaaaaaaaaaa!"

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UPDATE:

Disney 'Tigger' Won't Face Charges
February 16, 2007


ORLANDO, Fla. -- Criminal charges will not be filed against a Disney employee accused of hitting a teenager while in costume as the character "Tigger," according to officials.

The State Attorney's Office announced Thursday that it will not press charges against Michael J. Fedelem.

Prosecutors made the decision after reviewing a complaint from
New Hampshire resident Jerry Monaco. Monaco videotaped his son, Jerry Jr., posing with a costumed Fedelem at Disney-MGM Studios in January. At some point, a confrontation occurred between the teenager and Fedelem. Orange County Sheriff officials say the father later watched the videotape and said Fedelem intentionally hit his son quote: "on or about the head."

Park officials suspended Fedelem while the investigation was being conducted. A telephone call placed to Disney officials by The Associated Press early this morning to find out Fedelem's employment status was not immediately returned.


I can't believe that they have not given him his job back. A few of the commentators on CNN said that it looked as if the 16 year old was doing something to Fedelem. They showed the video and they were right. Anyhow it looked like it was supposed to be joking around and it happened by accident. Always someone trying to make a buck. Pathetic. Thank goodness the right thing happened in this case!!

Disney has to be one of the most sued places. People want a piece of that mousey pie. Freakin' employees just have to break wind to give these people a reason.

Anyway, good thing no charges will be filed.

Doesn't mean these cheeseballs won't try to file a civil complaint.

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lol - looks to me like a LOVE tap - also, it looks like the kid was laughing the whole time and that he did something to tigger, because of the way he moved and grabbed his arm, then the kid fell into him.

lol - looks to me like a LOVE tap - also, it looks like the kid was laughing the whole time and that he did something to tigger, because of the way he moved and grabbed his arm, then the kid fell into him.

Wow. Disney's employees sure have been on a role lately, haven't they...

When I watched the video, it looked like when the kid put his arm around Tigger, Tigger lost his balance. If you notice his right arm, when Tigger suddenly moves to his left, his right arm wrapped around the kid's arm. In my opinion, it could have been a jerk reaction to possibly losing his balance in that huge suit.

If it was intentional, it does not matter what is going on, no Disney employee, regardless of how hot or agrivated they are, has a right to put their hands on a kid in an unpleasant manner. If the kid had been doing something he was not supposed to, then the person who was walking around with the characters to ensure their safety should have done something. The character's can take breaks, and if they feel their agitation level is rising, they need to do so.

he wasn't grabbing his nuts though

and the kids parents were standing right there. i dont care who you are you dont put your hands on my kid. espically if you are an adult that is paid to entertain kids.

Still, the kid should behave and not act like a jerk. Problem is the parents have probably never given him a good wack so he acts a fool.

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