Barcelona winger Raphinha has publicly accused Disneyland Paris staff of racist behavior toward his young son during a recent family visit. The Brazilian international, currently with the national team for World Cup qualifiers, voiced his anger and disappointment on social media, alleging that a park mascot ignored his three-year-old son, Gael, while interacting with other children.
Raphinha shared videos and images on his Instagram account showing a costumed character embracing and greeting other children, while seemingly overlooking his son. In one of his posts, he questioned why "all the white children were embraced and my son wasn't," suggesting that the alleged snub was racially motivated. He expressed his frustration and tagged Disneyland Paris directly, calling their employees a "disgrace" and stating that they "shouldn't treat people like that, especially a CHILD". He further added, "You're supposed to make children happy, not humiliate them".
The footballer also acknowledged the potential fatigue of the staff but reiterated his confusion and disappointment, writing, "I understand the fatigue of those who work there, but why were all the white children embraced and my son wasn't? He just wanted a 'hi' and a hug. Lucky for you, he doesn't understand. I hate you @DisneylandParis". In another post, he labeled a Disneyland staff member as "stupid".
The incident has sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many fans expressing their support for Raphinha and condemning the alleged behavior of Disneyland Paris staff. Many found the situation deeply upsetting, with some users calling for Disneyland to address the situation immediately and ensure that such incidents do not happen again.
As of September 6, 2025, Disneyland Paris has not issued an official response to the allegations. Neither Barcelona nor the Brazilian football federation has commented publicly on the matter.
Raphinha is currently in Brazil for World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia. He played in Brazil's 3-0 victory over Chile. Despite being thousands of miles away, the incident at Disneyland Paris clearly struck a nerve with the player, prompting him to speak out against what he perceived as discriminatory behavior.
This incident is not the first time Disneyland Paris has faced accusations of discriminatory behavior. It remains to be seen how Disneyland Paris will respond to Raphinha's allegations and what measures they will take to prevent similar incidents in the future. The incident has raised broader questions about diversity, inclusion, and the experiences of people of color in public spaces.
