Disneyland Paris has become the center of a disturbing scandal that has sparked outrage. Last weekend, French police dismantled what appeared to be an elaborate “child wedding” staged at the iconic amusement park, involving a nine-year-old Ukrainian girl and an adult man playing the groom.

Although described as a “mock wedding,” the context, location, and the background of the organizer have raised serious concerns among the public and authorities alike.

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Who was involved in the Disneyland Paris child wedding?

The key figure behind the controversial event is a 39-year-old British man whose identity has not been officially disclosed. French prosecutors revealed that he is a convicted sex offender in the UK, previously sentenced for crimes against minors. At the time of the incident, he was also wanted by British authorities for violating restrictions associated with his status as a registered sex offender.

The man was arrested at Disneyland Paris early Saturday morning after one of the participants tipped off park staff and police. The whistleblower, a 55-year-old Latvian man hired to play the “father of the bride,” stated that he was paid €12,000 for his role and only discovered that the bride was a child shortly before the staged ceremony.

In addition to the organizer, police arrested the child’s 41-year-old Ukrainian mother, a 24-year-old Latvian woman hired to play the “bride’s sister,” and the Latvian man posing as the father. As of the latest updates, only the British man remains in police custody facing formal charges.

How was the Disneyland Paris wedding for a 9-year-old girl organized?

Preliminary investigations revealed that the supposed wedding was meticulously planned and staged as a private event at Disneyland Paris. Authorities confirmed that the organizer used a fake Latvian ID to rent the venue for several hours outside regular park hours.

French media outlets, including Le Parisien and BFMTV, reported that the event’s total cost exceeded €150,000 (approximately $160,000). The expenses included renting the park, hiring about 300 extras, employing a string quartet, and covering logistics. Participants were recruited online through ads promoting a “luxurious wedding rehearsal.”

Hired extras gathered in Paris around 4 a.m. and were transported by bus to Disneyland. It was only upon arrival that many realized the “bride” was, in fact, a young child dressed in a white gown, full makeup, and wearing 5-inch high heels taped to her feet — details that horrified onlookers.

Disney Park staff immediately intervened and alerted the authorities, preventing the event from continuing.

What do authorities say about the Disneyland Paris child bride?

Jean-Baptiste Bladier, the public prosecutor in Meaux, stated that medical examinations and initial interviews confirmed that the child had not been subjected to abuse, nor had she been forced to participate in the staged wedding. Nevertheless, the incident raised grave concerns regarding the child’s well-being and the intentions behind the event.

Bladier further clarified that Disneyland Paris had been “deceived” by the organizers. The park, known for strict safety standards, reportedly acted swiftly and appropriately by halting the event as soon as staff became aware of the situation.