Tigger a fondler????

[venray]

Lawyer: Disney Wants Tigger Costume Changed For Trial

POSTED: 6:31 am EDT July 30, 2004

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Walt Disney World wants to protect the innocent image of Tigger during an upcoming sexual molestation trial of an employee dressed as the character, and has asked that the orange striped costume be changed for the case, an attorney said.



Michael Chartrand was charged with molesting a 13-year-old girl in February while he was dressed as Tigger at Disney World's Toon Town. The trial is scheduled to begin Monday.

A Disney lawyer suggested that the orange Tigger costume be dyed black or white and its ears be removed, said Chartrand's attorney, Jeffrey S. Kaufman Jr.

"Disney doesn't want this costume out there," Kaufman said. "They want to protect their copyright. They want to take off everything that would make it look like Tigger."

A Disney spokeswoman confirmed that attorneys expressed concern to Kaufman and prosecutors about using the Tigger costume at trial. But she wouldn't comment about suggestions of coloring the costume or taking off its ears.


"Our hope is that the use of our costume will be handled with appropriate sensitivity so as to preserve the dreams and magic for our younger guests as much as possible," Jacquee Polak said.

Kaufman, who has also played Tigger at Disney and works part-time as a costumed character at the theme park, said he refused to let the costume be "bastardized" because an altered Tigger suit could make his client look demonic or freakish.

Kaufman said he expects jurors to handle the costume, so they can see how difficult it would be to grope a young girl in the bulky outfit.

 

[tklr5150]

This is almost as bad as the time Eeyore plowed his Geo into that gas station in Knoxville

 

[tklgal226]

i heard about that, and no one around here beleived me! Thanks ray! 😉

 

[Limeoutsider]

I can imagine after this what piglets into

 

[leafstk]

I can imagine after this what piglets into

😱 ROFLMAO!!!!

 

[TicklishSinner]

im confused, they want to change the way Tigger looks??

 

[venray]

All is said and done and he was acquitted of any wrongdoing!

Man who portrayed Disney character wants job back
Wednesday, August 4, 2004 Posted: 9:22 PM EDT (0122 GMT)

ORLANDO, Florida (AP) -- A Walt Disney World worker who portrayed the character Tigger was acquitted Wednesday of charges he fondled a 13-year-old girl while posing for a photo with the teen and her mother.

Jurors found Michael Chartrand not guilty of lewd and lascivious molestation, a felony, after deliberating for less than one hour. He had faced up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Chartrand hugged his attorneys when he heard the verdict.

Earlier this week, he rejected a plea offer that would have given him probation.

Outside court, Chartrand, a native of England who lost his fiance and had been suspended without pay after his arrest, said he'd like his job back, but that the experience "has ruined my dream to be a character."

Disney spokesman Bill Warren said, "We can have a conversation with him, but at this point we really don't have a comment."

Prosecutor Will Jay and members of the girl's family left court without commenting.

During closing arguments earlier Wednesday, a defense attorney donned a Tigger costume in the courtroom in an effort to show jurors how difficult it is to maneuver and see in the outfit.

Defense attorney Jeffrey Kaufman -- who also moonlights as Tigger and Goofy at Walt Disney World -- first strapped on Tigger's tail and then put on a neck cloth, the enormous orange-and-black striped head, and two large orange mitts to show jurors how the costume limits peripheral vision and arm movements.


Attorney Jeff Kaufmann wears the gloves from a Tigger costume for his final arguments.
Jurors said the tactic had no effect on their decision. "There was no evidence to convict," juror Zach Kauffman said. "They couldn't even prove who was behind the Tigger mask."

On the stand, Chartrand answered "no" when asked if he had ever touched anyone inappropriately while working as a costumed Disney character. His testimony and acquittal came on the third day of his trial.

Chartrand, 36, said he wrote a letter of apology to the girl, but only at the urging of a detective investigating the case. The detective told him it would make the girl feel better, even though Chartrand said he did not remember the girl.

"I believe (the detective) was trying to get me to admit to something I would never do -- fondling or groping a female," Chartrand testified.

Chartrand's defense attorney has contended that the girl's mother was merely after money and planned to sue Disney. The mother also claimed Tigger touched her breast during the visit to Disney World last February, although no criminal charges followed her allegation.

Under questioning from Kaufman, the mother conceded that she had met with a lawyer about the case. But asked if she thought she could make a lot of money from Disney, she told Kaufman, "No, I didn't."

 

[leafstk]

craziness

 

[Knox The Hatter]

Living proof we're going to hell in a handbasket 😛

 

[venray]

You needed proof?? 😛

 

[TheJoker]

Doesn't seem to me like you could even feel anything through those big Tigger paws...

And yes, how dare they. The Tig kicks ass.

 

[MrMacphisto]

Dying Tigger black is a bad idea, since all you have to do is change one letter in his name, and you've got a slur....

If you think this scandal's bad though, have you ever seen that Satanic Pooh clip? LOL

 

[Fastwalker]

Satanic Pooh

Hey MrMacPhisto, where can I find that Satanic Pooh clip?