PARIS (BN24) — Barcelona and Brazil international Raphinha has publicly accused Disneyland Paris of racial discrimination, alleging that a park mascot deliberately ignored his young son during a character meet-and-greet, while warmly interacting with white children.
The 28-year-old football star, who is currently on international duty with Brazil, posted footage on social media showing the moment his son, Gael, appeared to be bypassed by the costumed character. In the video, the mascot is seen hugging several white children before walking past Gael, who stood waiting nearby. Despite visible encouragement from family members, the mascot continued moving without engaging the child.
A relative eventually carried Gael to the mascot, prompting a brief and seemingly reluctant interaction. The family then walked away, with visibly upset expressions.
In a scathing social media post, Raphinha condemned the park’s staff, writing, “Your employees are disgraceful. You shouldn’t treat people like this, especially a child. You’re supposed to make children happy, not ignore a child. I prefer to say ‘ignore’ rather than anything else. You’re a disgrace.”
The Brazilian winger, who helped lead Barcelona to a domestic treble last season and is one of the club’s four Ballon d’Or nominees in 2025, further implied that the incident was racially motivated.
“I understand the fatigue of those who work with this, but why did all the white children get hugs and not my son?” he asked. “I hate you, Disneyland. He just wanted a hello and a hug.”
Disneyland Paris, which welcomes approximately 12 million visitors annually, has yet to issue a formal response to the allegations. However, the park has faced similar controversies in recent years. In 2022, another family accused a Disneyland Paris employee—dressed as Princess Rapunzel—of deliberately ignoring their Black daughter during a meet-and-greet. The park responded at the time by promising to reinforce its inclusivity training.
In 2024, Disneyland introduced its first attraction featuring a Black princess—Tiana’s Bayou Adventure—replacing the previously controversial Splash Mountain ride, in what was seen as a broader effort to promote diversity and representation.
The current incident has sparked renewed debate over how inclusive the entertainment giant’s global parks are for children of all backgrounds.
Raphinha, who joined Barcelona from Leeds United in 2022, has had a stellar season, scoring 34 goals across all competitions. He played a key role in Brazil’s 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Chile on Friday and is expected to feature against South Korea before returning to Spain for Barcelona’s La Liga fixture against Valencia.
As public attention around the incident grows, all eyes are on Disneyland Paris for a response, as the conversation around racism in family entertainment environments continues to evolve.
