Actor adds voice to calls for headstone rethink
Dad was sure movie company would allow superhero design
Disney’s refusal to let a Maidstone dad put a Spider-Man headstone at his four-year-old son’s grave has been branded “unconscionable” by an actor. Last month, Lloyd Jones made a desperate plea to put a proper headstone at his son Ollie’s grave, some six months after his superhero-themed funeral. Days later Disney refused the Barming dad’s request, saying it followed a policy started by Walt Disney himself to “preserve the same innocence and magic around our characters that brought Ollie such joy”. On Sunday, Yuri Lowenthal, who provided the voice of the web-swinging hero in last year’s Spider-Man video game, reacted to the film giant’s refusal. He said: “This is unconscionable.
“Spider-Man is tied inextricably to Uncle Ben’s death. And most Disney animated films begin with the death of a parent.
“An act like this could literally help kids deal with death better.” Ollie, who had leukodystrophy, a rare genetic disease, died in December last year.
More than 11,000 people have signed a petition to get Ollie his headstone and coverage has spread across the globe.
The Jones family started their appeal after Maidstone Borough Council told them they needed to get Marvel’s permission for Ollie’s headstone, under copyright law.
Disney purchased Marvel Entertainment in 2009. Speaking last week, Mr Jones, a father of six, said: “I really wasn’t expecting this.
“I felt sure Disney would allow it. Characters die in their films. “I think this is all about money. Ollie’s last holiday was at Disneyland. He loved Spider-Man and we had bought him all the toys. “But now he has died and we won’t be spending any more money – they don’t care.”
Sign the petition at tinyurl. com/olliespider