Kelly Rowland was among many over the weekend who took to social media to slam Sesame Place theme park in Philadelphia over an incident Saturday (July 16) that seemingly depicted two Black children being intentionally ignored by Sesame Street characters during a parade.
As seen in the now-viral clip (posted inside), two young Black girls motioned to get the attention of one of the muppets who not only disregarded them but went to high-five a white child.
Sparking outrage among viewers, look inside to see what Kelly said and how Sesame Place responded to the hoopla.
Posting the clip to her Instagram Story, the Destiny’s Child alum wrote, “TF! This just made me So mad!” Elaborating, Rowland – a mom of two – didn’t mince words about her feelings about the controversial incident.
“OK so, had that been me, that whole parade would have been in flames,” she told her 13.4 million IG followers Sunday (July 17). “Like, are you serious? You’re not going to speak to my child? And did you see that baby’s face at the end? The little one with the pink on? She deserves an explanation. Hello.”
As shares of the video reached viral status, Sesame Place released a statement to defend the performer in the costume.
“Our brand, our park and our employees stand for inclusivity and equality in all forms. That is what Sesame Place is all about and we do not tolerate any behaviors in our parks that are contrary to that commitment. Regarding the incident yesterday, the costumes our performers wear sometimes make it difficult to see at lower levels and sometimes our performers miss hug requests from guests.”
Elsewhere in the statement, they said the character “did not intentionally ignore the girls and is devastated about the misunderstanding.” To remedy the situation, they invited the family back for a “special meet-and-greet opportunity.”
At writing, it is unknown if the family accepted the offer. While awaiting an official response, Sesame Place issued another statement – this time in the form of an apology. Read it below.