An African-American father has accused Chuck E Cheese of being a racist as he ignored his child but hugged white kids.
Damon Payne was at Chuck E. Cheese with his 3-year-old daughter Dynver to celebrate her birthday.
The duo was excited to meet the restaurant’s mouse character but Damon claims that Chuck E Cheese ignored his daughter and hugged white kids instead.
The father filmed the moment his daughter standing up next to Chuck E to hug him at an outlet in Metairie, New Orleans.
But, Chuck E ignored her. The father can be heard telling his daughter in the video: “go in front of him, go ahead.”
When Chuck E constantly ignores his daughter, he says: “You don’t see her? She’s right there.”
The angry father shared the video footage on his Instagram with the caption: ‘MY KIDS WILL NEVER STEP FOOT BACK IN Chuck E Cheeses. #racismdoesn’tcarewhat age. Please do me a favor share this and tag anybody with power she didn’t deserve that. That’s at the one in Metairie.’
The video went viral online and people criticised the behaviour of the Chuck E. Cheese mascot and asked him to treat every child with love and affection.
One user said: ‘This is a child and should not be overlooked because of some bigot in a costume. Chuck E Cheese is about and for the kids. Address it and remove whomever it is in the costume.’
The manager of the restaurant later offered the family 50 free tickets to redeem at the store’s shop after the father complained to him.
The company then issued a statement to WDSU: “Our cast members are trained not to initiate physical contact with the children – in case they are afraid of Chuck E.”
‘We want to assure our guests that we take great measures to protect the experience all children and families have in our restaurants.’
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