Mum slams water park for ‘body shaming’ teen as she does ‘walk of shame’
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An amusement park was accused of “body-shaming” visitors as they weighed them before they were allowed to ride.
Adventure World in Perth, Australia, hoped the measures would help them to “manage safety at the park”.
Those queuing for water slides had to stand on the scales to see if they met weight requirements.
If they were deemed “too heavy”, a light on the scales flashed red and they were asked to leave the queue.
And this “walk of shame” proved mortifying for some revellers at the attraction.
A mum revealed her 13-year-old daughter felt “humiliated and embarrassed” after being put through the weight check.
She told The West Australia: “My eldest daughter took my youngest daughter, who has special needs, up the slides.
“She noticed the weight machine but just lined up with her sister and her friends.
“Once at the top she was stopped and asked to stand on a weight machine.
“After the lights flickered red the operator walked over to her and said ‘sorry, you weigh this amount and you can’t go down’.”
Horrified by the public display, the mum demanded a refund for their season pass ticket to the theme park.
Adventure World in Perth has since apologised for putting the weighing scales system in place.
In a statement on Facebook, CEO Andrew Sharry said: "In our efforts to introduce important systems to better manage safety on some of our waterslides, we have handled the communication of these new waterslide systems poorly and we have upset our Guests."
"On Monday, I connected with an expert who specialises in body image and eating disorders, and I can now see how these waterslide safety systems would be received as traumatic and upsetting for some of our guests and members.
"I am genuinely sorry that we have caused this distress to our guests and members – Our purpose is to create happiness and magical memories. We have not achieved that on this occasion and I acknowledge that we can do better.
"I have spoken with the family involved and have personally apologised for the hurt that we have caused."
- In the News
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