Tag: costumed characters
The Brooklyn Paper’s Joseph Altobelli published an article today decrying the recent appearance of costumed characters forced out of Times Square on the Coney Island boardwalk. According to Altobelli and his sources, the characters, who sometimes illegally charge people to pose for photos with them, are aggressive and annoying and bad for business. Altobelli writes: […]
The Batman and The Joker have banded together in a rare show of unity to fight a new mutual threat: The New York City Council. The New York Times reports that the mascots of Times Square, including Hello Kitty and the Big Apple, appeared before the Consumer Affairs Committee on Wednesday to oppose a proposed […]
Earlier this week, the NYPD conducted what CBS characterized as an “impromptu meeting” with Times Square mascots in an effort to improve relations after a string of well publicized arrests. But according to the doomsdayers at the New York Post, it didn’t go as well as planned. Only nine characters showed up — CBS reported […]
Yesterday, the NYPD tweeted a photo of a woman wearing a fuzzy red Elmo suit in handcuffs with her back turned. The 37-year-old woman was arrested when police saw her asking a passerby for cash. They said she will be charged with aggressive solicitation. This weekend, two men dressed as Spider-Man and Batman were arrested, along with […]
More Times Square costumed characters were arrested this weekend, after reportedly getting into a fight with a 22-year-old man from Queens. Thomas Rorke and two men dressed as Spider-Man and Batman were all arrested for assault. Other mascots blamed Rorke for the fight. “He was intoxicated and messing with Batman and they got into it,” […]
After much controversy, Councilman Andy King has announced pending legislation to regulate costumed characters who pose with tourists in Times Square and then ask for tips. He believes that regulations, including background checks and licenses, would be beneficial for all involved. “Most of the people out here are hard-working, law-abiding men and women, but there have been a couple […]
The producers of Sesame Street stated this week that they are exploring possibilities of legal action against people wearing costumes that represent their copyrighted characters. The mascots, who pose with tourists and demand tips, have come to police attention multiple times recently, including last week when a man dressed like Spider-Man punched a cop. Sesame […]
Over the weekend, a man dressed as Spider-Man punched an NYPD officer in Times Square. This has lead to a crackdown on costumed characters. “They’re like little terrorists preying on all the tourists,” a police officer told the Post. The Naked Black Cowboy, legally Titus Gandy, was arrested when he showed up at the Midtown South […]
A New York’s City councilman has drafted a bill to create a licensing system and background checks for the people who wander Times Square in costumes posing with tourists, to the dismay of brands like Viacom and Sanrio reports the Wall Street Journal. There are currently over 70 mascots — many of them immigrants — […]
