Sesame Place will be conducting bias training after a viral video sparked backlash.
The video posted to Twitter shows a character high-fiving people and then skipping over two black girls.
#BabyPaige & her cute lil friends went to @SesamePlace this weekend to celebrate Paige's 4th birthday & this is how #SesamePlace treated these beautiful Black children. I'm HOT. pic.twitter.com/wATjpRzUF1
— Leslie Mac (@LeslieMac) July 17, 2022
Several Twitter users expressed their disappointment with the incident.
This is so heartbreaking. No amount of public apology or performative statements by @SesamePlace will undo how this racist made these lovely Black children feel. No child should be treated this way. So upsetting! https://t.co/bUJ7LbzFMq
— Birgit Uwaila Umaigba (@birgitomo) July 18, 2022
#Rosita got some explaining to do. https://t.co/zWvzRyvqCZ
— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) July 18, 2022
When I tell you racism touches everyone. Believe me. These are kids man. https://t.co/wP0qDJ6A2l
— LISTEN!! ? (@GMONEYizME) July 19, 2022
This is absolutely disgusting.@SesamePlace https://t.co/aUHHWfGMgS
— Audra McDonald (@AudraEqualityMc) July 18, 2022
Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind “Sesame Street,” issued a statement responding to the incident.
“We have been in contact with Sesame Place, our licensed park partner, and they have assured us that they will conduct bias training and a thorough review of the ways in which they engage with families and guests,” the statement reads.
The statement continues, “As a global nonprofit educational organization with a mission to help children grow smarter, stronger and kinder, Sesame Workshop has always stood for respect, inclusion and belonging and is committed to providing the highest quality engaging experiences for all children and families.”
— Sesame Workshop (@SesameWorkshop) July 18, 2022
Sesame Place Philadelphia apologized in a statement, saying, “We know that it’s not OK.”
The statement goes on, “We will conduct training for our employees so they better understand, recognize and deliver an inclusive, equitable and entertaining experience to our guests.”
— Sesame Place Philadelphia (@SesamePlace) July 18, 2022
In an initial statement, Sesame Place Philadelphia claimed there was nothing racially motivated about the incident.
“The performer portraying the Rosita character has confirmed that the ‘no’ hand gesture seen several times in the video was not directed to any specific person, rather it was a response to multiple requests from someone in the crowd who asked Rosita to hold their child for a photo which is not permitted,” the statement explained.
According to the statement, the performer “did not intentionally ignore the girls and is devastated about the misunderstanding.”
