Disney adult demands apology from TV show after ‘weird’ solo Disneyland trip comments

A woman has called out ITV for shaming adults for visiting Disneyland without their children.

Aimee Bradley wrote a complaint after panelists on Loose Women discussed whether adults should visit Disneyland without children or not.

Whilst Aimee was not named, the show briefly presented a headline from The Sun that was written about her. The mum of three has since claimed that she has been the subject of online criticism online after insinuations on the show.

During the episode aired on August 15th, panelists including Oti Mabuse discussed adults going to Disneyland in a segment called “Disneyland without kids: Weird or wonderful?”

In the episode, Oti Mabuse said: “If you are alone at Disney and I have my daughter, It’s a bit [hand gesture] andI will be grabbing her.”

In a letter sent to Aimee, ITV explained that comments made on the show were in general and “not specifically directed to the article.”

However, Aimee has called out ITV and Oti for this discussion, claiming that whilst her name was not mentioned, these claims did in fact include her.

Following her solo trips to the theme park, the autistic mum of three was recently the subject of an article in The Sun, with the headline reading: “I’ve been to Disney 32 times and leave kids and hubby at home for solo trips…save £2,000 per visit with my cash-saving tips.”

@dream1ncolour

Loose Women discussed an article about me. During that discussion Oti Mabuse said “If you are alone at Disney and I have my child I will be grabbing my daughter.” She did not need to use the word predator because that statement said it all. It told viewers that a woman like me, who loves Disney, is unsafe to be around children. Those words have destroyed me. They did not need to show my name or picture because anyone can search that headline and find me. I have been publicly labelled as unsafe to children when I am a mother of three disabled autistic children, a wife, a carer for my disabled sister and an advocate who has dedicated her life to fighting for SEND children’s rights. I take my children to Disney. It is our happy place. It is where I relive the only happy memories of my childhood with my late mum who first took me when I was 11. I lost ten years of my childhood to a real predator. To now be lumped into that same category simply because I am autistic and Disney is my special interest has shattered me to my core. It brings me joy, calm and connection to my mum. Sometimes I go on my own to enjoy the magic in peace, and to have that turned into something suspicious has damaged my mental health in a way I cannot even explain. Disney is not a child setting. It is a theme park. Walt Disney himself said “To all who come to this happy place: Welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future.” Disney was created for everyone. Adults enjoying Disney are not suspicious or unsafe. We are exactly who Walt built it for. No one would be called a predator for walking into Thorpe Park alone. So why is Disney any different. you need to understand the damage this has done and you need to apologise. Words like this have power and the impact has been devastating. @Loose Women @Oti mabuse @ITVX @itv #Disney #LooseWomen #AutismAcceptance #SEND #PublicApology

♬ original sound – Aimée Bradley

In a TikTok, Aimee said about Disney: “It brings me joy, calm and connection to my mum. Sometimes I go on my own to enjoy the magic in peace, and to have that turned into something suspicious has damaged my mental health in a way I cannot even explain.”

Most Read

JK Rowling crashes out in long rant as Harry Potter director blames her for lack of reunion

‘First come, first served’: Millionaire CEO bites back after ‘stealing’ hat from kid on live TV

Woman who did gross stunt with Lily Phillips says her husband is divorcing her over vile videos

Aimee added that whilst she was not directly named, she has been negatively affected by the show using the headline about her in its segment. She said: “Since this has been aired online, I have been told that because I’m autistic, I should never have had children.”

The Disney adult added that she had been a victim of sexual assault in the past, making these accusations even more hurtful and leading her to write a complaint to ITV: “As a survivor or childhood sexual abuse, to be lumped into the category of the monster who stole my childhood has shattered my mental health.”

In its response, Aimee said ITV claimed that the segment and the comments made were lighthearted and not about her. In a letter, ITV wrote to Aimee: “The article was not referred to again specifically after this and you were not named or photographed at all during the programme.

“Oti’s subsequent comment about seeing an adult at the park on their own was a general comment and not specifically directed to the article. It was also expressed lightheartedly and she also made the point that there are many Disney fans of all ages.”

Aimee refutes this however, saying that the show’s use of imagery is “misleading”.

She said in a TikTok: “To claim that this isn’t connected to my article is very misleading as my article was shown at the beginning at this specific topic segment.

“Nothing about this has been lighthearted, it’s defamatory. It’s discriminatory. It has broken me to my core and it is dangerous. ITV and Oti and Loose Women need to get accountability and I am going to keep going until they get accountability.”

“The response I received from ITV ignores everything.”

Explaining how Disney is her happy place, Aimee said: “I lost 10 years of my childhood to a real predator.”

Referring to Disney, she added: “It brings me joy, calm and connection to my mum. Sometimes I go on my own to enjoy the magic in peace, and to have that turned into something suspicious has damaged my mental health in a way I cannot even explain.”

During the show, the panel also discussed rides and rollercoasters, agreeing that adults should be able to enjoy theme parks on their own and without children.

In the letter, an ITV spokesperson also wrote: “The article in The Sun in which you featured was used simply as a link for the topic, and after Kaye, Nadia and Jane’s very brief initial responses to the article which expressed their personal opinions, the conversation moved on to them discussing their love of big rides at theme parks, during which a funny photo of Kaye was shown.

“Loose Women features a range of views and experiences from our panellists, and Jane Moore and Nadia Sawalha agreed that adults should be able to enjoy theme parks on their own, be more playful as they got older and to enjoy big rides. We therefore feel the discussion was balanced and that it was clear that the conversation had moved on from the article specifically by the time that Oti expressed her view.”