A moment from a parade at Disney World is going viral after a person dressed at Woody from Toy Story was seen alerting a person dressed as the film's character Jessie that a young Black fan was waving to her.
The moment came following the intense backlash that ensued after a mega-viral video showed Sesame Street characters refusing to interact with Black children at a similar parade last month.
Video of the Disney moment was shared to TikTok by a man who accompanied the child, who was wearing a Jessie-themed outfit and carrying a Jessie doll.
@lifesigma Woody help make Havyn day!!! She got to get a Hug from Jessie #disneyworld #yougotafriendinme @hey_ma_heyyy #magickingdom #toystory #Woody #Jessie
In the video, the Black children could be heard cheering and calling for Jessie to come to their side of the parade route. Given the loudness of the crowd and the music playing, it appears as though the Jessie character couldn't hear their calls.
But Woody definitely could. After several attempts in vain to get Jessie's attention, he finally crossed the parade route to alert her to the situation. She then came over to the Black children, giving the child in the Jessie-themed outfit a huge hug as people nearby cheered.
The moment comes on the heels of a controversial viral video showing an employee dressed as Sesame Street character Rosita seemingly snubbing a group of Black children, making a "no" gesture during a parade at the Sesame Place theme park.
A park spokesperson claimed the Rosita character was signaling no to a patron who requested she hold their baby, which is not allowed, but other camera angles call this interpretation into question. Similar allegations from another family have led to a lawsuit.
On Twitter, many people couldn't help but laugh about what they jokingly suggested was Woody's attempt to avoid a similar legal fallout.
Woody probably Black under there lmao
— Wakanda Secretary of State (@blerd316) August 3, 2022
woody said: JESSIE pic.twitter.com/FSjbjH3av6
— ethan (@abus2bam11) August 3, 2022
Jessie said she ain’t trynna be next😭 pic.twitter.com/7OurGjAvRj
— Trafalgar D. ♓️ (@Marrio_Gr) August 3, 2022
I'm weak at Woody tryna get her attention and she over there doing high kicks in Liberty Square
— Tucked in by Ten (@Flynstyle2) August 3, 2022
The costume manager in this morning’s meeting pic.twitter.com/vd8RATWiXG
— Edmond Don’testme (@Roderick4392) August 3, 2022
Others were moved by the moment.
I mean, I don’t want to get emotional. It’s just all our kids want is be shown the same love as other kids. This made me smile. This moment made that baby day. Thank you Jess.🥹 pic.twitter.com/UoeDMDSkFN
— Micole Foster MSW, She/her (@MsMicolefoster) August 3, 2022
And that’s all it takes, pay attention to all these kids there. Their parents are paying an arm and a leg to take them, give them the service they paid for.
— 🪩 432wo Fuckin Busy 🪩 (@WhittyHuton91) August 3, 2022
Woody has always been the best mascot pic.twitter.com/WvsuKIDkbu
— Yorm💥 (@_Mroy_) August 3, 2022
Aweeee she had her Toy Story cowgirl dress on, she was only there for Jessie, too cute pic.twitter.com/W5OtXT63YY
— Bigg Country (@BiggCountry_) August 3, 2022
In the caption to his TikTok, user @lifesigma said the encounter with Jessie made her day, so it seems the outcome of this parade moment will be lifelong happy memories instead of lawsuits.
@coyleray/Instagram