Originally Posted By DlandDug Everyone I know who works with the characters lives in mortal fear of ever harming a guest. It is incomprehensible that Tigger would throw a punch in front of a kid's family, let alone with a video camera around.
Originally Posted By knoxvelour I was reading the talkback section over on fark.com on this matter. Someone had mentioned there is some type of harness they wear to help support the weight of the head and the harness can very easily cut off the actor's air supply if pulled on. Can anyone confirm this?
Originally Posted By imadisneygal The harnesses I have seen does not go in front of the neck, but rather over the shoulders. I am not sure tugging on it would cut off the air supply. That said, the feeling of the head being lifted off (or a costume unzipped) would likely make a character react. I agree with Doug. This is a constant concern for characters and I don't buy for a second that it was an intentional "punch."
Originally Posted By nemopoppins It's so easy to see that the video doesn't show indisputable evidence of a punch that I can't believe that reporter, I mean TV news personality, acts so delightedly condemning!
Originally Posted By mrichmondj The evening is now competing with YouTube for their audience, so the quality of reporting and source of information will deteriorate to keep up with the competition.
Originally Posted By tiggerdis_ What I also noticed was that even though Tigger "punched" the kid, he was still smiling and carrying on. I would love to see what went in that video camera AFTER the incident.
Originally Posted By knoxvelour Tigger speaks!!! <a href="http://www.local6.com/travelgetaways/10694041/detail.html" target="_blank">http://www.local6.com/travelge taways/10694041/detail.html</a> "In a statement made to the sheriff's office, Fedelem said he was acting in self-defense. He claims that the child was pulling on his costume, causing him to lose his breath, according to the Local 6 News report."
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> What I also noticed was that even though Tigger "punched" the kid, he was still smiling and carrying on << Tigger always smiles...
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka <<"In a statement made to the sheriff's office, Fedelem said he was acting in self-defense. He claims that the child was pulling on his costume, causing him to lose his breath, according to the Local 6 News report.">> Then Tigger DID hit the kid. If hitting a kid is the only thing he could think of to do (as opposed to, oh, I don't know, stepping away from the kid?) then maybe he shouldn't really be Tigger. I find it hard to believe that characters wouldn't have any sort of training for this type of situation. I doubt slapping someone is given as a solution.
Originally Posted By GoofBall ^^ I guess I am still assuming it was an accidental hit to the face, if you can even call it that. He was trying to release the kid's hold obviously, and in that big costume it was not pretty.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss How could he possibly step away from the kid if he is backed up to the railing and the other family members around him? Not excusing the hit, but I'd hardly call it a punch... more like a move just to get the kid to stop.
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka How about stepping to the other side, away from the kid? I don't think the kid was hurt but saying Tigger did this in self-defense murks it up more. (At least for me.) I'd much rather it was an accident than a CM who thought he needed to swat someone in the face.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I agree that it mucks it up, but as I said, I don't think he could step away if he wanted to... especially since the kid is grabbing onto him. And the CM wasn't exactly trying to deck the kid, AND the reaction afterwards does not suggest a need for a hospital visit and drugs. THAT to me says these people aren't on the up-and-up.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I agree that it mucks it up, but as I said, I don't think he could step away if he wanted to... especially since the kid is grabbing onto him. And the CM wasn't exactly trying to deck the kid, AND the reaction afterwards does not suggest a need for a hospital visit and drugs. THAT to me says these people aren't on the up-and-up.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> Then Tigger DID hit the kid. If hitting a kid is the only thing he could think of to do (as opposed to, oh, I don't know, stepping away from the kid?) then maybe he shouldn't really be Tigger. << True, up to a point. In the video you can see Tigger is pretty well hemmed in. A rail is behind. The teen to one side, mom and a child in front. Tigger knows this. With his limited vision, moving quickly in any direction can knock down someone smaller in front of him, or someone over the rail. I don't think he was "hitting." I think he was coming around quickly to brush away the offending hand. A move that characters do when they need to. And instead he caught the teen in a way that wasn't intended. If a hand is where it's not supposed to be, characters will simply move to remove it, and do it quickly. Then they may politely hold onto the person's hand or arm in a way to keep them from repeating the offending motion while photos are being taken. Characters are not in a position to say "Please remove your hand."
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy The more I think about what I see in that Tigger video, and then what happened afterwards on the air, I'm wondering more and more if this whole thing wasn't a setup. Think about it. What's the teen's motivation? Why would a 14-year old kid try to unzip Tigger or try to unlatch his head onstage the way he apparently did? Maybe he'd do a thing like this in front of his friends for giggles. But in front of his father with a video camera? I think not. (Unless he was just plain an out-of-control teen -- but the post video doesn't seem to support that) Or unless Dad knew about it himself. And was hoping for video of Tigger beheaded onstage. What do you think?
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I think Dad needs to get it through his thick head now that it wasn't an unprovoked hit, and should make his brat apologize. But we know that won't happen.
