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Tigger Punches Guest??
- Thread starter GMHades
- Start date
hokielutz
Well-Known Member
Excuse me???? If the CM is right... shouldn't the family and the boy apologize to the CM first for grabbing the costume and attempting to choke him??? And also apologize for creating such an uproar that it affected the paying job of the CM? Then the CM can apologize for his survival reaction that would disarm the boy choking him.
Also, what is the source of the CM's claim? if it was a statement released through Disney... then he is operating under contractual obligations.
Also... the announcement of a legal witness who has a different take on the incident is just posturing by the familiy's lawyer to try and force this into settlement discussions. Possibly they are under the belief that Disney will not want to legally fight this and will pay to make the bad press go away.
And you were proven wrong... they did want green Ben Franklins.
slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
Ah, you gotta cut him some slack, his argument all along was "The father already said he doesn't want money, so until he actually starts a lawsuit, nobody should say that he will." Most of us had suspicions, but he just opted to take the guy at his word. The guy just happened to be a big fat liarhead.
hrcollectibles
Active Member
At the end it looks like the kid slugs tigger in the eye. I think the kid was messing with something (perhaps a zipper or tail)
slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
Thanks. Don't know if you noticed the edit in my previous post, so I just wanted to ask again: How are you a 4th. generation police officer if both of your parents are lawyers? Is there an aunt or uncle on the force, and then it goes up to your grandparents & great-grandparents? Or were one of your folks an officer before going to law school?
hokielutz
Well-Known Member
That is the only thing that Tigger/CM could do at the end to diffuse the situation. And that takes character to do that after you've been tugged, choked or whatever happened behind Tigger's back.
slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
Cool, thanks for clearing that up. Didn't want to impugn your character, but it just sounded a little hinky. Spend enough time on message boards, and you'll occasionally find people (usually kids) "padding their resume" a little bit to sound more authoritative on any given subject so their opinions won't be questioned, and that discrepancy just leapt out at me. Maybe it's the fact that my old man was a detective, with the NJSP, that makes me genetically suspicious.
PKD
Active Member
Union Rep Says Tigger Was Trying To Escape From Teen
Union Rep Says Tigger Was Trying To Escape From Teen
ORLANDO, Fla. (WFTV.com) – A New Hampshire teenager said home video proves he was attacked by Tigger at Disney-MGM Studios. But, Channel 9 has learned Tigger said he was the one who was at-tacked. A union representative for him said he was pulled and was choking, adding he was just trying to escape. In the video, Jerry Monaco, Jr., looks as if he's using his left arm to get closer to Tigger to pose for a picture. Then, the video shows Tigger's arm go for the teen, appearing as though Tigger is hitting him. But the man in the Tigger suit, Michael Fedelem, said through his union representative that he was the victim. Jerry Monaco, Jr., 14, said he did nothing to provoke Tigger. The teen's father filed charges against Fedelem with the Orange County Sheriff's Office and Fedelem was suspended from work by Disney for now. The father thinks Tigger was annoyed that he was abandoned by his character escort. But Donna-Lynne Dalton, who represents more than 2,000 characters at Disney, has a different take. "I have no idea how they would know, because, as you know, the characters do not talk," she said. Jerry Monaco, Sr. said he took his son to the hospital a day after it happened because his son complained of neck problems. He was even prescribed a painkiller, codeine. But Dalton said a supervisor talked to the family right after the alleged attack and they said their son was not hurt. "As a union, we're not going to condone guests coming into the park and assaulting our members," Dalton said. Monaco has retained an attorney.
Union Rep Says Tigger Was Trying To Escape From Teen
ORLANDO, Fla. (WFTV.com) – A New Hampshire teenager said home video proves he was attacked by Tigger at Disney-MGM Studios. But, Channel 9 has learned Tigger said he was the one who was at-tacked. A union representative for him said he was pulled and was choking, adding he was just trying to escape. In the video, Jerry Monaco, Jr., looks as if he's using his left arm to get closer to Tigger to pose for a picture. Then, the video shows Tigger's arm go for the teen, appearing as though Tigger is hitting him. But the man in the Tigger suit, Michael Fedelem, said through his union representative that he was the victim. Jerry Monaco, Jr., 14, said he did nothing to provoke Tigger. The teen's father filed charges against Fedelem with the Orange County Sheriff's Office and Fedelem was suspended from work by Disney for now. The father thinks Tigger was annoyed that he was abandoned by his character escort. But Donna-Lynne Dalton, who represents more than 2,000 characters at Disney, has a different take. "I have no idea how they would know, because, as you know, the characters do not talk," she said. Jerry Monaco, Sr. said he took his son to the hospital a day after it happened because his son complained of neck problems. He was even prescribed a painkiller, codeine. But Dalton said a supervisor talked to the family right after the alleged attack and they said their son was not hurt. "As a union, we're not going to condone guests coming into the park and assaulting our members," Dalton said. Monaco has retained an attorney.
hokielutz
Well-Known Member
Another thing to point out. In order to escape the hold the kid had on his costume, Tigger had to turn his back away from the kid. And as everyone knows... if you turn your back, your arms and torso will follow... and that ends up pushing into the kid. The other option for Tigger would have been to step away... but with mother and the 2 younger children flanking tigger and a fence right behind him, stepping away was not an option and all Tigger could do was to grab the arm and turn the part of the costume the kid was latched onto... away from the grasping hand.
metscool
Active Member
Look at this now that I am home I looked on youtube and found this. And this supports most of what people are saying that the kid was pulling on Tigger's back.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=p0ifdL7aegg&NR
http://youtube.com/watch?v=p0ifdL7aegg&NR
carolina_yankee
Well-Known Member
I was being more subtle than I meant in my post quoting the report about the red mark being visible to the reporting officer. My concern is how/who put the red mark and the kid's face before the officer came by since the report was taken so much later after the incident. Even a stinging slap that leaves a welt cools down fairly quickly (not that I know from too much personal experience!)
It could have been sunburned or a reaction to the costume dye for all we know, but if the family is staging or amplifying the complaint, I get particularly concerned with a minor involved. Too many years of parish ministry and having teachers in my congregation tell me their horror stories . . .
Dirk
BeckyLSawyer
New Member
Re-read that report. It clearly states that Union representative Donna Lyne Dalton made that announcement. I believe that I said that the CAST MEMBER cannot speak to the police, nor can Disney in general. The UNION, however, is a seperate entity.
Thank you, very much.
Can i just say that I'm going to be SO happy to say "I told you so" to this wonderful individual when Tigger is cleared and the family has been sued!
Ugh. Seriously, askmike1, are you the family's lawyer? If not, you should be. You seem like the perfect leech, er, person for the job.
hokielutz
Well-Known Member
To all CM's
I am so happy that Tigger has a public voice that is standing up for his side of the incident. Now you should know that I do not have a very high opinion of organized labor unions because of their political affiliations and donations to parties and candidates that may or may not represent the members of the unions.
But I am glad that they can and did serve this valuable purpose when an employee is in trouble.
Captain Chaos
Well-Known Member
Is the CM suspended with or without pay? If I were him, I'd sue the family for back pay if it is without pay, then I would sue for pain and suffering and libel.
BeckyLSawyer
New Member
If he was suspended pending investigation like the news articles say then it was without pay.
As for the rest, they haven't released a statement on whether or not he'll press charges.
I would. But that's just me.
ilovepluto
New Member
so who will win this case?
BeckyLSawyer
New Member
The only suit is filed against Disney. Disney usually wins thier cases, or settles out of court.
There aren't any charges filed against the CM according to the public files. I hope it stays that way.
wedway71
Well-Known Member
Heres the letter id like to see from WDW if they had a "pair"
Dear Mr. Monaco,
After reviewing the tapes in which your son claims he was attacked by Tigger we have come to the conclusion that it was in fact Tigger who was attacked.Tigger claims through his Union rep that he was being choked by your son and it was merely a self defense move not to hit but to push away since choking the CM would have made him pass out and thus fall ontop of your other kids and REALLY ruining the Honeymoon.
It is a good thing you have already contacted an attorney for the fact that you will REALLY need one now since we have opened a lawsuit against you for Defimation of Character and loss of wages and mental anguish for the CM playing Tigger.
WDW prides itself with every Guest leaving happy so please accept these coupons for (4) free DOLE WHIPS on your next visit with any $1,000 merchandise purchase.
Have a magical day,
WDW management
Dear Mr. Monaco,
After reviewing the tapes in which your son claims he was attacked by Tigger we have come to the conclusion that it was in fact Tigger who was attacked.Tigger claims through his Union rep that he was being choked by your son and it was merely a self defense move not to hit but to push away since choking the CM would have made him pass out and thus fall ontop of your other kids and REALLY ruining the Honeymoon.
It is a good thing you have already contacted an attorney for the fact that you will REALLY need one now since we have opened a lawsuit against you for Defimation of Character and loss of wages and mental anguish for the CM playing Tigger.
WDW prides itself with every Guest leaving happy so please accept these coupons for (4) free DOLE WHIPS on your next visit with any $1,000 merchandise purchase.
Have a magical day,
WDW management
mrtoad
Well-Known Member
Not sure how Diney works but I would assume it was with pay until proven guilty.
Judging strictly on public opinion on both Disney and non-Disney related sites the Monaco family does not have a snowball's chance in hades of winning this case.
It is clear when the video is reviewed that Jerry Monaco Jr pulls on the back of the costume thereby by choking the cast member. Weather he does this intentionally or unintentionally will more than likely never be known. The cast members actions are simply done out of self defense. In some versions of this video the tape runs around 1 second past this alleged punch and it shows Tigger placing his hand on Jerry Monaco Jr's shoulder and shaking his hand. Based on the fact that costumed cast members are not permitted to speak while in costume this could be inferred to be a non verbal apology. I suspect that there is considerably more footage on that tape that is not being shown by the media that would aid in exonerating Tigger of any wrong doing but in this age on unfair and biased reporting practiced by far too many new agencies the general public will more than likely never see this footage. There is no evidence that would suggest that the cast members actions were an attempt to physically harm Jerry Monaco Jr.
Jerry Monaco Jr's claims of injury are IMHO highly dubious and I feel that this opinion is shared by many.
In all probability this is a simple accident that is being blown way out of proportion by Jerry Monaco Sr for the purpose of financial gain.
But that is just my opinion......