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Michael C. aka Tigger gets his job back
- Thread starter donsullivan
- Start date
Here's an article from today's Orlando Sentinel with a little more detail on things.
'Tigger' will return to his job at Disney
By Sean Mussenden | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted August 7, 2004
The suspended Disney worker at the center of the Tigger trial was given his job back Friday and will likely return to playing costumed characters at Walt Disney World by the end of the month.
But the worker, Michael C. Chartrand, will not don a Tigger suit anytime soon, his attorney Jeffrey Kaufman said.
"Even though he loved playing Tigger, the suit is a constant reminder of the whole ordeal," he said.
Chartrand had been suspended without pay since early April, when he was arrested and charged with groping a 13-year-old girl while portraying Tigger at the Magic Kingdom. On Wednesday night, an Orange County jury acquitted him of those charges.
On Friday afternoon, Chartrand, his mother, and a representative from Teamsters Local 385, the union that represents costumed characters, met with Disney officials to discuss reinstatement.
Disney lifted the four-month suspension and returned an estimated $5,000 in back pay. It also restored his old position in the costumed character unit. In that role, he will perform other duties in addition to dressing up as popular Disney icons, including escorting other costumed characters around the parks.
In the meeting, Chartrand told his bosses that he would prefer not to play Tigger, at least initially, said Donna-Lynne Dalton, a business agent for the Teamsters who sat in on the meeting. Disney told Chartrand they would accommodate that request, she said.
Chartrand could not be reached for comment.
Talking with reporters in the courtroom after his acquittal, Chartrand suggested that he would prefer a non-costumed job after returning to Disney. He changed his mind, Dalton said.
"He did consider not going back to being a character. The whole experience has been very traumatic for him. But, ultimately, he remembered that being a character was why he came to Disney," she said.
Kaufman said he expected Chartrand to return to work within the next week or so and be wearing costumes by the end of the month.
During the trial, Kaufman -- himself a part-time Disney character who has played Tigger -- put on the bulky orange, black and white costume for jurors. Just seeing the costume in court made his client tear up, Kaufman said.
"He won't be playing Tigger for a while, and that's not for Disney's benefit -- it's for his benefit," Kaufman said, adding that one day Chartrand might want to play Tigger again.
Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Polak could not say exactly what characters Chartrand might be playing. The company would not have a problem with Chartrand playing Tigger again, she said, if he decided he felt comfortable in that role.
Sean Mussenden can be reached at smussenden@orlandosentinel.comor 407-420-5664
'Tigger' will return to his job at Disney
By Sean Mussenden | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted August 7, 2004
The suspended Disney worker at the center of the Tigger trial was given his job back Friday and will likely return to playing costumed characters at Walt Disney World by the end of the month.
But the worker, Michael C. Chartrand, will not don a Tigger suit anytime soon, his attorney Jeffrey Kaufman said.
"Even though he loved playing Tigger, the suit is a constant reminder of the whole ordeal," he said.
Chartrand had been suspended without pay since early April, when he was arrested and charged with groping a 13-year-old girl while portraying Tigger at the Magic Kingdom. On Wednesday night, an Orange County jury acquitted him of those charges.
On Friday afternoon, Chartrand, his mother, and a representative from Teamsters Local 385, the union that represents costumed characters, met with Disney officials to discuss reinstatement.
Disney lifted the four-month suspension and returned an estimated $5,000 in back pay. It also restored his old position in the costumed character unit. In that role, he will perform other duties in addition to dressing up as popular Disney icons, including escorting other costumed characters around the parks.
In the meeting, Chartrand told his bosses that he would prefer not to play Tigger, at least initially, said Donna-Lynne Dalton, a business agent for the Teamsters who sat in on the meeting. Disney told Chartrand they would accommodate that request, she said.
Chartrand could not be reached for comment.
Talking with reporters in the courtroom after his acquittal, Chartrand suggested that he would prefer a non-costumed job after returning to Disney. He changed his mind, Dalton said.
"He did consider not going back to being a character. The whole experience has been very traumatic for him. But, ultimately, he remembered that being a character was why he came to Disney," she said.
Kaufman said he expected Chartrand to return to work within the next week or so and be wearing costumes by the end of the month.
During the trial, Kaufman -- himself a part-time Disney character who has played Tigger -- put on the bulky orange, black and white costume for jurors. Just seeing the costume in court made his client tear up, Kaufman said.
"He won't be playing Tigger for a while, and that's not for Disney's benefit -- it's for his benefit," Kaufman said, adding that one day Chartrand might want to play Tigger again.
Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Polak could not say exactly what characters Chartrand might be playing. The company would not have a problem with Chartrand playing Tigger again, she said, if he decided he felt comfortable in that role.
Sean Mussenden can be reached at smussenden@orlandosentinel.comor 407-420-5664
Sir Hiss527
New Member
I am glad to hear the Chartrand got his job back..it's good to hear. Let's all just be a little more careful next time, and watch where EVERYBODY puts there hands. Let's not do this again.