A Disneyland frequent theme park visitor and fan, known across the internet as “Peter Pan Girl,” has been the subject of intense scrutiny and cyberbullying since her videos interacting with the Peter Pan actor at Disneyland went viral.
Now, a recent Peter Pan character performer who interacted with the guest during his time at Disneyland has broken his silence in her defense. Keep reading for all of the details and what he said. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including the reveal of a new Disney World hotel opening date and the details of the NFL and Disney collaboration.
READ MORE – Hidden Details on Disneyland Rides That You Will Completely Miss if You Don’t Know Where to Look
Disneyland Peter Pan Character Performer Defends “Peter Pan Girl”
Christina Toni Kulusich, who has been meeting Peter Pan character performers at Disneyland for more than a decade, recently had a video go viral, racking up more than 29 million views. The video shows her gifting Peter Pan a handmade crochet keychain and sparked hundreds of comments questioning her interactions with the character performers at Disneyland.
She spoke to multiple online publications in response, clarifying that her interactions are always respectful and sharing that the intense online scrutiny has taken a toll on her mental health. She told WIRED that someone had figured out the location of her workplace and posted the address online, so she had to change her work hours for security reasons. Unfortunately for Kulusich, her video has become an easy target for online bullying. What started as comments poking fun at Disney adults has turned into a much more intense cyberbullying situation.
Disney Ride Closure ALERTS, Major Changes, Secrets Revealed
Get alerts on closures, park changes, exclusive discounts, and free printables. Trusted by 100,000+ Disney fans & planners.
Dylan Gadeke, a cast member who portrayed Peter at Disneyland from 2014 to 2021, spoke out about the controversy in a TikTok video. He started the video by saying, “Yes, I had many interactions with Toni.” He said that while her behavior made him feel uncomfortable or awkward at times, it did not cross boundaries of what a character interaction should look like in the parks. He claimed “it never crossed the boundary of trying to get to know the performer,” and called for an end to the online harassment. He ended the video a bit tongue-in-cheek, looking at the camera and addressing Kulusich by saying, “And Toni, they’re men in tights.”
Since Gadeke posted the video, it has received more than 298k likes on TikTok. Responses have varied, with many commenters applauding his “classy response” to the situation and also joining him in his call to end the bullying against Kulusich. However, some in the comment section who have clearly been enjoying the online drama made several comments saying, “This is not what I wanted,” which others pointed out was a strange response to the situation.
It appears Kulusich has just become the internet’s latest target of online bullying, a trend that seems to thrive when Disney adults, particularly women, are at the center of the conversation. While there’s no doubt that Kulusich’s behavior opens up a legitimate conversation about boundaries between guests and cast members, the intense cyberbullying that has followed doesn’t appear to be about defending cast members.
Instead, it seems to have become an opportunity for the internet to collectively pile on, ridicule, and shame someone without considering the toll this may take on someone’s mental health.
READ MORE – Don’t Pack These Items For Your Disney Trip. They Can Cause Headaches and Some Are Banned.
Watch the full video from the former Peter Pan character performer below:
@dylangadeke All children grow up, and now it’s your turn✨ #peterpan #disney #disneyland ♬ Original Sound – TikTok Advertiser
Don’t Miss the Latest Disney News
Don’t miss the latest Disneyland and Disney World news from Mickey Visit. Join the FREE Mickey Visit newsletter that over 100k readers receive every single week. Mickey Visit is here to help you save money and experience more during your Disney and Universal vacation. See the Mickey Visit guide to Disneyland and the Mickey Visit guide to Disney World for tips.
