Universal character fired after making white power 'OK' symbol while posing with 6-year-old bi-racial girl
Universal Orlando Resort reportedly fired a 'Despicable Me' character actor for making a white power "OK" symbol in a photo with two biracial children. The actor, who was not identified, was pictured in a costume making the controversial sign while posing with a 6-year-old girl, who has autism. The photo was taken alongside a Minion who was getting photographed with the girl's little brother, a two-year-old boy.
The children's mother Tiffaney Zinger later spotted the symbol and alerted the officials of the resort. Zinger, while talking to USA Today, said that she noticed that the character of 'Gru' was making an upside "OK" symbol, which has recently been designated as a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
Zinger and her husband Richard produced a video of the incident to confirm that the employee of the Universal resort had made the symbol deliberately while pretending to welcome the children during their family trip in March.
"He put his hand on her as if he was just doing it regular, and as I was looking at the camera, he started to put the universal white supremacist hate sign on her shoulder,” said Zinger, who is African American, told the outlet. "We just wanted to take them to see the Minions, do something special for our family, and this person ruined that special warm feeling."
The couple said that the picture was taken nearly a week after the deadly Christchurch mosque shootings, following which the shooter, Brenton Tarrant, a self-proclaimed white supremacist, flashed the "OK" symbol during his first appearance in court.
"I’ve been emotionally distraught about it. I’m still pretty upset that someone felt they needed to do this to children,” Zinger continued. "It can cause emotional stress on my child and her development. I hope this doesn’t happen to another family again, and I pray that this doesn’t happen to another kid."
Shortly after the news was reported, a spokesperson from the Universal Orlando Resort released a statement to the outlet, saying that the actor involved in the incident had been fired.
"We never want our guests to experience what this family did," a spokesperson said. "This is not acceptable and we are sorry — and we are taking steps to make sure nothing like this happens again. We can’t discuss specifics about this incident, but we can confirm that the actor no longer works here. We remain in contact with the family and will work with them privately to make this right."