A 22-year-old British man was arrested for allegedly attempting to orchestrate a fake wedding with a 9-year-old girl at Disneyland Paris. The incident, which unfolded on June 21, raised alarm when Disneyland staff noticed that the child bride was unexpectedly young for a wedding ceremony.
According to reports, the man claimed that the wedding was staged for a social media video. Park officials were quick to respond upon realizing the unusual circumstances surrounding the event, which was to take place near the iconic Sleeping Beauty castle. Further investigations revealed that the supposed wedding guests were hired actors who had been transported to the park with minimal details about the event.
French prosecutor Alexandre Verney confirmed that the child underwent a medical examination and was found to be unharmed. In connection with the incident, four individuals were arrested: the British man, the girl’s mother, a 41-year-old Ukrainian woman, and two Latvian nationals, aged 24 and 55. Following their arrest, the mother and one of the Latvians were released, while the British man and the younger Latvian remained in custody, being investigated for potential financial fraud.
Witnesses described their shock upon realizing the child was the bride. One attendee expressed their disbelief, stating, “We all thought we were going to attend a wedding,” while praising Disneyland for swiftly canceling the ceremony once they became aware of the child’s age.
This incident has raised significant concern regarding child welfare and the appropriateness of such actions. The swift intervention by park authorities likely prevented a troubling situation from escalating further. As these events unfold, it highlights the importance of vigilance at public events to protect the well-being of minors.