Barcelona and Brazil winger Raphinha has accused Disneyland Paris of racism after a mascot allegedly ignored his young son, Gael, while hugging other children. The 28-year-old shared videos on social media showing the mascot embracing several white children but repeatedly overlooking his son, who appeared to try to get the character's attention.
In the footage, Gael is seen standing to one side as the mascot interacts with other children. A relative appears to nudge the boy towards the mascot, but the character stands up and walks away. The child later has a brief interaction with the employee, but the family member then walks off looking displeased.
Raphinha, who is with the Brazil national team during the international break, wrote: 'Your employees are disgraceful. You shouldn't treat people like this, especially a CHILD. You're supposed to make children happy, not ignore a child.' He added: 'Why did all the white children get hugs and not my son? I hate you, Disneyland.'
Disneyland Paris, which attracts around 12 million visitors annually, has not yet responded to the allegations. This is not the first time the park has faced racism accusations; in 2022, a family claimed a Princess Rapunzel character ignored their black daughter.
Raphinha joined Barcelona from Leeds United in 2022 and scored 34 goals last season, helping the club win a domestic treble. He is one of four Barcelona players nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or.
