Barcelona forward Raphinha has ignited a firestorm after accusing Disneyland Paris staff of racially motivated behavior toward his son during a family trip to the resort.
The Brazilian international, who is currently away on World Cup qualifying duty, said he was “ashamed” and “disgusted” after footage showed his two-year-old son Gael apparently being ignored by a park mascot while other children were warmly greeted.
The video, shared on Raphinha‘s Instagram story, quickly went viral. In it, several children are seen receiving hugs and attention from the character, while Gael stands to the side and gestures in search of the same acknowledgment. Even when an adult carried him closer, the mascot appeared to turn away.
“Your employees are disgraceful,” Raphinha wrote. “You shouldn’t treat people like this, especially a CHILD. You’re supposed to make children happy, not ignore a child. I prefer to say ‘ignore’ rather than anything else. You’re a disgrace.”
The 28-year-old went further in a follow-up post, questioning why, in his view, “all the white children got hugs and not my son.” He ended with a furious message: “I hate you, Disneyland.”
The accusation struck a nerve far beyond football, touching on long-running debates around discrimination in public spaces.
While Disneyland Paris has yet to release an official statement, the allegations have already sparked fierce discussions online, with fans, families and advocacy groups weighing in.
Some rallied behind the Brazilian, pointing to the symbolic importance of his son’s snub, while others urged restraint until more information emerged. What’s undeniable, however, is that the claims cut sharply against Disneyland’s long-cultivated image as the “happiest place on Earth.”
Raphinha’s family was in France at the time, while the player himself was more than 5,000 miles away, starting in Brazil’s 3-0 win over Chile at the Maracanã. He is expected to line up again against Bolivia in El Alto before returning to Barcelona duties in LaLiga.
Raphinha’s history of speaking out
For Raphinha, the outrage in Paris is not an isolated issue. The winger has been vocal about racism throughout his career, both as a victim and as an ally to teammates.
In 2023, after being substituted in a match against Real Valladolid, he lifted his jersey to reveal a shirt that read: “Whilst the colour of skin is more important than the colour of eyes, there will be war.”
The gesture was in solidarity with Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, who had been repeatedly targeted with racist abuse in Spain.
Just last season, both Raphinha and teenage teammate Lamine Yamal were subjected to racial taunts during Barcelona‘s 4-0 win over Real Madrid.
Spanish police later confirmed multiple arrests for “racist insults aimed at two footballers.” Both clubs and LaLiga issued strong condemnations, but Raphinha insisted at the time that “nothing ever changes” and that “important people need to take action.”
His latest comments from afar suggest he sees the same patterns emerging elsewhere, this time in an environment that should be a sanctuary for children.
For Raphinha, this is about more than results on the pitch. His anger at seeing his son apparently overlooked has resonated with parents around the world.
Whether Disneyland Paris explains the mascot’s behavior as fatigue, miscommunication or something else entirely, the damage may already be done in the court of public opinion.
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