Raphinha Accuses Disneyland Paris Mascots of Racial Neglect

Barcelona footballer Raphinha has publicly alleged that Disneyland Paris staff engaged in racist behavior after his young son was reportedly ignored by a mascot while other children received hugs. Currently on international duty with Brazil, Raphinha shared footage on social media showing his two-year-old, Gael, being overlooked by the mascot as other children were embraced.

The videos, posted on his Instagram story, depict several children being greeted by the mascot, while Gael remains to the side, visibly reaching out for a hug. An adult nearby even attempts to guide the boy closer, but he still receives no attention. Raphinha criticized the staff, saying, “Your employees are disgraceful. You shouldn’t treat people like this, especially children. You’re supposed to make children happy, not ignore them.”

He further accused the mascot of deliberately ignoring Gael because of his skin color, questioning why all the white children received hugs and his son did not. “I hate Disneyland,” he declared, highlighting his disappointment. The footballer condemned the employee involved, calling their behavior “shitty.”

Viewing the incident as discriminatory, Raphinha expressed his anger on social media but did not receive an official response from Disneyland Paris. At the time, he was in Brazil, having participated in a World Cup qualifying match, and expected to return to Barcelona for upcoming fixtures.

Throughout his career, Raphinha has been outspoken against racism, notably during a match against Real Valladolid in 2023 when he displayed a message supporting racially targeted peers. In 2024, he and teammate Lamine Yamal faced racial abuse during a game, leading to arrests and condemnations from clubs and leagues.

Raphinha has accused Disneyland Paris staff of discrimination during an incident involving his son.