SeaWorld Sued Over Handling of Sesame Street Brand at Theme Park

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is facing a lawsuit related to the handling of the Sesame Street brand at its Sesame Place theme park in Pennsylvania. The case stems from allegations that character performers representing the popular children’s franchise engaged in discriminatory conduct toward visitors.

According to the complaint, several families claim that employees dressed as Sesame Street characters refused to interact with Black and Hispanic children during parades and “meet‑and‑greet” events while engaging with white guests through hugs, waves and dances. Plaintiffs argue that this behavior not only constituted discrimination but also breached the service expectations tied to the purchase of park admission tickets.

The lawsuit, led by a Baltimore family, seeks more than $25 million in damages and proposes class‑action status on behalf of other affected families. The filing also asks the court to require SeaWorld to implement stricter anti‑discrimination training, screening procedures for employees and a formal public apology.

Sesame Place operates under a licensing agreement that allows SeaWorld to use characters owned by Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind the Sesame Street television program. Sesame Workshop is not named as a defendant but said it expects the park operator to review the allegations and ensure guest experiences reflect the brand’s values. SeaWorld stated it would review the lawsuit and emphasized ongoing efforts to improve inclusivity at its parks.