Tigger Vs. Teen

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: CBS News Issues

(CBS/The Early Show)

This morning, the "Early Show" interviewed Jerry Monaco, his son and their lawyer. The Monaco family recently took a trip to Disney World, where they met Tigger, the exuberant tiger from A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh books. Or rather, a Disney "cast member" in a Tigger costume. And that's when the Monaco's horrific experience began.

The Monaco family was posing with Tigger while Jerry filmed them with his video camera. Suddenly, Jerry's teenaged son, Jerry Jr., was "smack[ed] in the face" by Tigger, as "Early Show" anchor Hannah Storm characterized it. Jerry Sr. called the incident a "sucker punch." Jerry Jr., who later "woke up with neck pain," was eventually taken to the hospital for treatment. As of this morning, Jerry Jr. says, "most of the pain is gone 'cause I have medicine."

Here at Public Eye, we've long been opposed to people dressed as fictional characters punching teenagers in the face. But we urge you to watch the video of the incident and decide for yourself what, exactly, Tigger did – the "Early Show" helpfully plays the video over and over during the course of the interview.

We can sort of understand why the "Early Show" had the Monacos on – video footage like this is hard to resist, and the folks at the "Early Show" have a couple hours to fill in the morning. But we'd like to think that we would have brought somewhat more skepticism to the table than Storm, who did not challenge the family's characterization of the incident.

To her credit, Storm did ask, at the end of the interview, what the family was hoping to get from Disney. And while the Monaco's lawyer said only that they want an apology, it's safe to assume that the family is open to compensation. As for the interview, it took place because both sides got something out of it – the "Early Show" was able to run some moderately compelling video, and the Monacos got a platform that allowed them to put pressure on Disney. Everybody, it seems, was a winner. Well, except maybe Tigger. And Disney. And us.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by mrcoca-cola January 10, 2007 4:30 AM EST: This is a joke why would "TiGGer" just randomly decide to "punch" a park guest. And why does the kids hand not leave tigger's back after the "punch".; Reply to this comment


by tellit-2009 January 9, 2007 8:06 PM EST: It is very clear that this family is looking for a very big payoff. What a crying shame! It is clear by the video that this kid did something to provoke poor Tigger. CBS ought to be ashamed to for giving legs to this crappy story.

To Disney: Give Tigger his job back!; Reply to this comment


by getreal60 January 9, 2007 7:42 PM EST: Why should Disney have to pay anything at all? The kid is attempting to remove the costume head! When viewing the video, watch the kids LEFT HAND and watch the FRONT (lower jaw) of the costume head. The kid pulls down, and the head of the costume starts to come off and jerks the man in the costumes head in the process. The man in the costume attempts to grab the head of his costume with his right hand to keep it from coming off. As his head is being jerked to the side, the man then uses his other hand (Left hand) to aid in holding on the head. Unfortunately it appears this hand brushes the kids face will trying to grab his costume head. (If you look close enough you can see the neck of the man inside as the head is jerked back)

The kid and father need to be arrested for filing a false police report! It is VERY obvious the kid was trying to yank the head off the actor.

Disney is VERY strict about keeping heads on costumed characters and stiff about the penalties for not abiding to that. This is a clear attempt of Jr. trying to %u201Cde-head%u201D Tigger and get it caught on tape! I wouldn%u2019t be surprised if dad was behind the whole thing as well. (With a plan of getting money for %u201Cruining his trip%u201D, if the process failed OR succeeded.)

Shame on the Monaco%u2019s for their extortion attempts! They need to come clean and/or Jerry Sr. AND Jr. need to pay the price for lying to not only the public, but to the Police; Reply to this comment


by wjsilvonic January 9, 2007 4:21 AM EST: I have to agree that this whole attempt on the family is a joke. You can clearly see that Tigger is attempting to get this boy off of him, which would indicate to me that this boy is doing something behind his back. It does not even appear that this teen was injured and has made up the allocations to attempt monetary gain from disney. Also if the father indicated that Tigger was having problems with another individual before his family A.) why was this not reported? and B.) why would you subject your family to a character that was aggitated .I need to agree with above that this teen should be apologizing for his actions. Anything for a buck. I think that this was handled poorly by CBS to have the family view their side and make them out to be the victims prior to obtaining the other side of the story how biased.; Reply to this comment


by kathymess January 8, 2007 6:57 PM EST: I put all my faith in Disney. We travel there every year and don't seem to ever have a problem. I think this dad is an opportunist. The characters at Disney can't see out of the corner of their eye, so when someone comes out of nowhere they can get startled. Tigger did nothing more than accidently swipe the kids face. If I follow this dad's footsteps, I could sue Disney for Aladdin's Geanie putting his entire hand over my son's face in a picture. This is really going to ruin it for the rest of us who pretty soon will only be alble to see characters at dinners and breakfasts. I have to give the kid credit though, for not breaking character during the interview. If Disney was smart, they should apologize and give the family dinner vouches only. This man deserves nothing else.; Reply to this comment


by dockskip January 8, 2007 6:35 PM EST: Sadly, none of the news media treated this event with any skepticism. Is it because of laziness? An inability to detract from the sensationalism of the story?

How can supposed news professionals accept a story at face value that a costumed employee decided to assault a theme park guest for no reason at all? If you watch the video even once, it is convincing that the kid is doing something. As Tigger attempts to move away, Jerry Monaco Jr's arm moves with Tigger instead of slipping away, which suggests that he was either grabbing on to something, pulling a zipper, or sticking his hand into Tigger's head.

Sadly, Disney will probably pay to make this problem go away, and possibly the employee will be fired or reprimanded unfairly. But the way that the news media treats this story is a shame and one more reason I have no respect for television news as a legitimate source. Finally, this wouldn't even be considered newsworthy by any real standards... it should not have caught the attention of the Early Show. Shame.; Reply to this comment


by ucantbserius January 8, 2007 5:45 PM EST: First, I can't believe Hannah Storm's handling of this story. Not even a hint of skepticism in her voice? Did she not view the video?

Second, this dad is clearly using his son in an attempt to score big against Disney. It is so obvious the kid is up to something behind the character's back. I've been to Disney properties a number of times and I have to say so many of the kids 10-15 seem to take it as a challenge to see what they can get away with in regards to the characters. I think the kid is lucky he didn't get worse.

Want to know why tickets prices are so high at Disneyland and DisneyWorld? Part of it is the insurance premiums to cover ridiculous lawsuits and settlements over frivolous claims like this one!

Finally, look for the following down the road from this family: wife divorcing this crackpot scammer, junior in rehab and younger siblings in counseling. They appear to epitomize the term 'dysfunctional family' Sad...sad...sad.; Reply to this comment


by mrichard523 January 8, 2007 5:35 PM EST: After viewing this video several times, it seems obvious the teen somehow provoked "Tigger." Though the Disney cast member should not have reacted the way he did, he is also human and would react like any normal human would to being provoked. And incidentally, if the teen was so badly injured by someone who was essentially wearing a mitten over their hand, why did his glasses not get knocked off? And why is he still smiling? Shame on you, Monaco family.; Reply to this comment


by griffinsnest January 8, 2007 5:21 PM EST: Definately a family of opportunist! Way to go there "dad"... you're teaching your son the art of the "get rich quick" scam. Shame, shame, shame!!! I would rather scrape by week to week than have a scam on my conscience and the world laughing at such a pathetic story. You know and the son know's too that he was not hurt especially enough to warrant a trip to the ER and "pain medicine" yeah right??? My children would disown me as their parent if I would embarass them like that. Of course, the dad and son both seemed "a couple of sandwiches short of a full picnic". If the truth really be known; the teen did something to Tigger that made him jerk around. Absolutely the most hidious story of 2007 thus far.; Reply to this comment


by floridagrl1 January 8, 2007 4:46 PM EST: These people are crazy. I guess they are trying to get a free trip to Disney. oh my god. It looks like Tigger was maybe thrown off balance and just barely grazed the kids cheek. He is in a costume and I am sure it is hard to tell where your hands and feet are in one of those things. How pathetic when they asked if he ws alright and he said he is still a little sore and they had to take him to the hospital!!!good grief what a wuss; Reply to this comment