Disney Performers Walk Out
Three cast members at Walt Disney World for the Festival of the Lion King at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, recently refused to perform one of the shows which ended up canceling a particular performance. These cast members believe their costumes were contaminated from older sweaty costumes from a previous performance.
Not long after, it was announced these performers were fired. One performer, Doug Biederman told The Orlando Sentinel, “We felt the unitards that were clean had absorbed sweat from the costumes that were already there, We said, ‘We don’t know what to do. Obviously wearing these costume pieces isn’t an option because they’re soiled. They’re not wearable.'”
It was also reported that this is the first time an incident such as this has occurred. However, the employees who were fired are attempting to fight back for their jobs. Orlando Sentinel also wrote, “Performers can get clean unitards for each show. But they reuse their items such as headpieces, collars and skirts. Those pieces had become wet with perspiration and were drying in the sun, to be used again by the performers who had already worn them.”
The other performers of the show had no issue with their costumes and had planned to go on with the show. At this time, there are no further reports regarding this incident from Disney and the fired workers.
