Credit: DisneyDisney hired an athlete accused of sexual harassment, a recent report said.
When visiting Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World, Disney Park Guests trust that Cast Members are looking out for their best interests and are there to make sure that they are having a good time.
The LA Times recently reported that Disneyland briefly employed a former professional wrestler as a Disney Cast Member who had been accused of sexual harassment by several different women.
Joseph Meehan, known in the wrestling world as Joey Ryan, worked for Disneyland for about three months in a probationary status until Disneyland declined to hire him as a full-time employee, the report says. During this time, he worked at the popular attraction Jungle Cruise.
A spokesperson for Disney told the publication that Meehan was no longer employed by Disney, but did not give details as to why the athlete wasn’t given a full-time job.
Though Disney does background checks before hiring Cast Members, Disneyland officials said that the check did not alert them to Meehan’s accusations, many of which have been under his stage name.
It should be noted that Meehan has denied all allegations and has not been charged with anything at this time.
Disney’s official description of Jungle Cruise reads:
Head off to Adventure
Board a canopied tramp steamer and leave civilization behind on a tongue-in-cheek journey through the globe’s most “treacherous” rivers—and oldest gags.
Highlights of your unforgettable adventure include:
- Ancient Cambodian Shrine
Come face-to-face with leaping tigers, lethal cobras and snapping crocodiles.- Jungle Cruise Safari Camp
Cruise past a former camp overrun by explosively curious gorillas.- Indian Elephant Bathing Pool
Venture into this sacred pool where you’ll see bathing Indian elephants. Feel free to take pictures—they have their trunks on.- The African Veldt
Behold angry hippos and hungry lions guarding a sleeping zebra.- Schweitzer Falls
Be awed as you take in a true natural wonder—the back side of water!Throughout your voyage, you’ll enjoy lively narration from your brave and trusty skipper. It’s a sometimes perilous, always hilarious 10,000-mile journey you won’t soon forget!
What do you think of this incident? Let us know in the comments!