Sesame Place accused of racial snub

PHILADELPHIA — The family of two Black girls who are seemingly snubbed by a character at Sesame Place Philadelphia in a viral video this month stepped up pressure on Saturday for the amusement park to turn the incident into a “teachable moment” about racial bias.

At a news conference in New York, attorneys for the family pressed Sesame Place and its owner, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, to make amends after the company issued several statements that the family suggested were insincere.

“Let’s make this a teachable moment, Sesame Street,” said Ben Crump, a civil-rights attorney.

Jodi Brown of New York posted a video of the Muppet Rosita appearing to refuse to high-five her daughter and niece, both 6, during a parade at Sesame Place in Langhorne. Brown’s viral video prompted calls to boycott Sesame Place.

Sesame Place offered to meet the family and their attorneys in person to apologize, according to a statement released after the news conference by the crisis management firm Fleishman-Hillard.

“We want to listen to them to understand how the experience impacted their family and to understand what we can do better,” the company said. “We want every child who comes to our park to feel included, seen and inspired.”

The Brown family said a second video, shot by a bystander, casts doubt on Sesame Place’s initial explanation that the employee wearing the Rosita costume was shaking off another family holding a child when the two girls, their arms outstretched for a hug, are bypassed. After passing the two girls, the Rosita character went on to hug a white child.

“It doesn’t take three statements over five days to recognize racism,” said attorney, B’Ivory LaMarr. “Willful blindness has always been an issue when it comes to social justice. … You can blame it on whatever you want, but America sees exactly what it is.”

Sesame Place said it is taking the incident “extremely seriously.”