draybook
Well-Known Member
He said some "spicy" things during the MNSSHP but it was perfect for his character. Should I be contacting Guest Relations over my outrage or is there a certain department that I need to contact?
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Gaston push up challenge...
- Thread starter WDW_Jon
- Start date
He said some "spicy" things during the MNSSHP but it was perfect for his character. Should I be contacting Guest Relations over my outrage or is there a certain department that I need to contact?
So when a CM in character interacts with guests, WDW suspends him because someone complained he made some "spicy" comments? Isn't Gaston basically a jerk and buffoon and one would expect him to act that way? Does corporate need to watch the movie again to be reminded how Gaston acts?
I thought the push up challenge was hilarious and in character. And hoped it wouldn't become another "Andy's Coming!" because of idiot guests. But this is ridiculous. So I guess all future M&G will be sanitized and highly scripted. Which takes the fun and magic out of a M&G.
Sad.
I thought the push up challenge was hilarious and in character. And hoped it wouldn't become another "Andy's Coming!" because of idiot guests. But this is ridiculous. So I guess all future M&G will be sanitized and highly scripted. Which takes the fun and magic out of a M&G.
Sad.
HRHPrincessAriel
Well-Known Member
"spicy" like how? If teh average kid can't/wouldn't catch on to something "spicy" I have no problem with it.
That was the awesome thing about older shows like The Cosby Show. I had no clue about how funny some of those really were until I was an adult. Claire and Cliff were even better when I "really" got their jokes.
That was the awesome thing about older shows like The Cosby Show. I had no clue about how funny some of those really were until I was an adult. Claire and Cliff were even better when I "really" got their jokes.
Tom Morrow
Well-Known Member
WDW is notorious for crushing CM's who go "above and beyond", despite that phrase being drilled as important rhetoric and company nomenclature, so suspending one of the best face characters they've ever had isn't too surprising, unfortunately.
Yeah, maybe he pushed the line a little, but I'd rather feel like I'm actually meeting Gaston and not some college student who is barely into it.
At least now I know those videos weren't viral marketing, as I suspected they were. Of course, they'll probably do much more for advertising WDW than their actual attempts at viral marketing.
Yeah, maybe he pushed the line a little, but I'd rather feel like I'm actually meeting Gaston and not some college student who is barely into it.
At least now I know those videos weren't viral marketing, as I suspected they were. Of course, they'll probably do much more for advertising WDW than their actual attempts at viral marketing.
I could see "let me just move your hand...down a little" being a little too "spicy" for some, but the others are so Gaston. Who is a jerk, buffoon, narcissist and all around male chauvinist...
HRHPrincessAriel
Well-Known Member
gotcha. The hand down one would get me the side eye. The others I'd just shrug off.
RandomPrincess
Keep Moving Forward
I agree the hand one is iffy. When I first saw the push up video I wondered if he would get in trouble because he wears gloves.
Monkee Girl
Well-Known Member
Is the 'move your hand' one on video? The only thing that comes close that I can think of was when he told one of the girls to 'move her hands (away), this is a photo shoot, not a meat market' or something to that effect....of course, I can't find the video now to get the exact line but it had tree girls in the picture.
It is true, we don't know the WHOLE story...maybe he was warned, I dunno. If he wasn't, I think it's very bad form of Disney to suspend the guy. And the sandwich lines crack me up. Anyone offended at that needs to not go meet Gaston. and if they are taking their precious child their to meet him, why are they allowing their child to meet and be influenced by a villain? Bad parenting if you ask me.
I remember the same thing happened with the Jack Sparrow character. He was quite the hit with the ladies and after a while, they had to tame him down a bit. Not because he was being offensive but I guess the constant asking about rum and acting drunk was something Disney wasn't comfortable with.
If you talk to 'our' Gaston, tell him we love his videos and hope we get to see him again soon.
Monkee Girl
Well-Known Member
Well this thread that I started went from entertaining to sad quick because of people being too precious and disney wanting robots as Characters
It's still a good thread. I do enjoy talking about characters and behind the scenes. It just is sad to head Disney apparently disciplining people for doing their job. I hope we hear more on this...hopefully a happy ending.
Monkee Girl
Well-Known Member
Found it! It wasn't 'that' Gaston but this is the video I saw....MAYBE it's a little mature...but I thought it was funny.
Bairstow
Well-Known Member
I like this idea.
Someone complains and management takes away cool stuff? We push back twice as hard.
Matt_Black
Well-Known Member
I know the feeling. Watching the Golden Girls now I keep thinking, "Wow, my parents let me watch this? This show is positively filthy!"
HRHPrincessAriel
Well-Known Member
YES but oh so good!!
marissieviolissie
Well-Known Member
I wonder about the last video. I enjoyed it, but if Disney would allow that, I'm pretty curious why PushUpGaston actually got suspended. What could he have done or said if "hands above the belt, it's a meet and greet and not a meet and grope " was deemed appropriate enough (apparently) according to Disney? It can't be a silly push up- contest....can it? 
friendofafriend
Active Member
I haven't read all the comments, but my understanding of the situation is that this particular Gaston had a video go viral in the past and he was warned about his behavior. Last I heard he was just removed from the role but was still in entertainment and received a discussion (a formal note on the CMs record stating that he had been talked to by a manager about his behavior), it seems that may have changed. All performers know that you aren't supposed to get on the ground. Disney consider it a safety issue, if you choose to ignore that its up to you but you know that you can get in trouble for it. We all know the rules and many of us bend or break them to create magic for our guests. Some managers will look the other way and other's won't. Its unfortunate that this particular interaction got so much attention, if it were never put on youtube he would likely still be in the role. I hope they come to their senses and bring him back. He deserves commendation from Disney not censure!
xdan0920
Think for yourselfer
I get it now. He knowingly broke the rules, and since the whole world saw it, they had to take some action. Otherwise, more rules get broken, and if they take action against other CMs, they open themselves up to questions about why some CMs get reprimanded and some don't.
Monkee Girl
Well-Known Member
I think it's silly. I get rules but that seems like a pretty stupid rule. Now, I love Disney and I get it is their job and there are rules (I know how 'higher ups' are...i work in a corporate environement) but this is just overboard. where is the cut off of not 'getting on the ground'?
What about when the princesses sit down/kneel for the little kids?
I think it's more dangerous for them because they can easily trip in those dresses. No one ever offers to help them up...
what about when Peter Pan sits on the ground?
I think it would have made more sense if he was just busted for making inappropriate comments. Just hearing 'he got scolded for getting on the ground' is just stupid. Bad form for Disney. And again...something that started out so positive was ruined. Maybe Disney should just ban video recordings of characters. then it would all be solved or better yet, don't have meet and greets of dynamic characters known for their showing off of strengths and being a sexist jerk.
What about when the princesses sit down/kneel for the little kids?
I think it's more dangerous for them because they can easily trip in those dresses. No one ever offers to help them up...
what about when Peter Pan sits on the ground?
I think it would have made more sense if he was just busted for making inappropriate comments. Just hearing 'he got scolded for getting on the ground' is just stupid. Bad form for Disney. And again...something that started out so positive was ruined. Maybe Disney should just ban video recordings of characters. then it would all be solved
or better yet, don't have meet and greets of dynamic characters known for their showing off of strengths and being a sexist jerk.
MarkTwain
Well-Known Member
This is what it sounds like. There are many times as a CM where you can do some small rule-breaking and not upset a manager, if it's done discreetly and with good judgment (I excelled at this
). It's sort of just the unofficial, less-publicized version of what Disney calls "magical moment," and happens all the time. But if you do this in a way where lots of guests or cast find out, then you can get in trouble. Disney doesn't want to give the impression (to guests OR cast) that this is a normal thing that can be expected from cast at any time.I think there was a Jungle Cruise skipper (could've been on here, or on MiceChat) that was talking about how much harder it is to get away with "edgy" or off-script jokes in the social media era. Sometimes these jokes are the funniest ones, and in the pre-internet era, when the only ones hearing the jokes were on a boat in the middle of a jungle, who would find out? But today, when any spiel can be recorded and uploaded from an iPhone, becoming a viral twitter hit, Jungle Cruise skippers have to be much more careful.
It sounds like that's exactly what happened here. It's a shame that social media and the ease of communication could actually be detracting from the Disney parks experience.