SeaWorld Hit with Class Action Over Alleged Racial Discrimination at Sesame Place Philadelphia

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SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment faces a proposed class action lawsuit in which a Baltimore father alleges he, his child and other Black guests experienced racial discrimination during an attempted meet-and-greet at Sesame Place Philadelphia. 

The 19-page lawsuit alleges that although the plaintiff’s Sesame Place tickets came with a meet-and-greet with costume character performers, the performers, dressed as Elmo, Ernie, Telly Monster and Abby Cadabby, “intentionally refused to perform” and engage with the plaintiff and his child, and ignored “them and all other Black guests in attendance.” 

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According to the complaint, the Sesame Place performers ignored the plaintiff and other Black guests despite “readily engag[ing] with numerous similarly situated white customers and their children” who participated in the costume character meet-and-greets. 

The case alleges that SeaWorld, which owns Sesame Place, was aware of and “subsequently ratified and adopted” the performers’ discriminatory actions given the conduct allegedly occurred “during business hours, in the light of day, to several different Black children on different days,” and was caught on video numerous times. 

The filing alleges SeaWorld, as a result of the costume wearers’ “racially motivated” refusal to perform, breached the contract formed with the plaintiff when he purchased his tickets. 

“SeaWorld breached its contracts with the [plaintiffs] and Class Members when, solely due to their race or color, and by and through its agents and/or employs, it publicly and discriminatorily denied Plaintiffs the opportunity to enjoy the experience of meeting and greeting the Sesame Street costume character performers as promised.” 

The case asks for damages in excess of $25 million and for the court to order SeaWorld to offer an unconditional apology, bar employees from engaging in racially discriminatory conduct and require the company to implement rigorous mandatory cultural sensitivity training and educational courses. The suit also looks to require SeaWorld to implement psychological screenings for vetting potential agents and/or employees. 

The lawsuit looks to represent all Black persons who, at any time since July 27, 2018, entered into contracts with SeaWorld for admission into Sesame Place Philadelphia and who suffered disparate treatment from SeaWorld and/or its agents and/or employees by their ignoring Black children while openly interacting with similarly situated white children. 

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