Chuck E. Cheese’s Photo Offends Parents At Pizza Party

A photograph taken during a pizza party at the Chuck E. Cheese’s in Las Cruces has upset a family, who claims the renowned mouse character looks inappropriate. But the company denies any wrongdoing.

Jesse Anderson says that at first glance, he didn’t notice anything wrong. It was not until he uploaded the photo onto his computer and took a closer look and, he says, he noticed that Chuck E. was pointing in an inappropriate manner.

“It obviously looks like a middle finger,” Anderson said.

Shocked by the photo, Anderson says he finds Chuck E.’s pose with his 4-year-old son, Corbin, offensive.

“I would say inappropriate for sure, because that’s not something that somebody in a customer service role should be portraying, especially with children,” Anderson said.

The photograph was taken during Corbin’s birthday party.

Unsure at first, Anderson said he is now convinced that the mascot is showing a middle finger.

“It did look like a middle finger, and the more we looked at it, the more I felt more confident with that,” Anderson said.

This made him wonder how many other parents would feel the same way.

Several Las Cruces parents who were shown the photo weighed in on whether they thought it was offensive or just a simple misinterpretation.

“I don’t necessarily think that he was trying to be offensive in what he was doing, maybe that’s just his costume,” one mother said.

Another mother said it is just how Chuck E.’s costume is put together that may give a false visual impression.

“I don’t see how it would be inappropriate at all, and I wouldn’t mind it if that was my child,” a mother said.

The general manager at Chuck E. Cheese’s, who did not wish to be identified, said the store had not been contacted by anyone.

“You can contact our corporate office,” he said.

Chuck E. Cheese’s spokeswoman Brenda Holloway said the thick fingers on Chuck E.’s costume can easily be misinterpreted, and she said the pose should not be a concern.

“No, absolutely not,” Holloway said. “No, not offensive at all. We are sorry that it attracted his concern. Chuck E. doesn’t really have a middle finger. He has a thumb and three fingers, and it was his index finger pointing at the medallion.”

Anderson says that as much as his children enjoy Chuck E. Cheese’s, he will now think twice about going back.

“I don’t want to spend money with a company that doesn’t have any concern for their parents or their employees,” Anderson said. “Don’t give me a reason to think that you’re doing something that you’re not supposed to be doing.”