KIDZANIA Kidzania rejected claims the puppet show was racist

FREE now SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Make the most of your money by signing up to our newsletter fornow We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Kidzania London suspended Thursday’s performance of the show while it investigated a complaint made by a father who had taken his family to celebrate his daughter’s eighth birthday.

I was shocked and embarrassed to watch a racist children’s puppet show that is culturally insensitive towards black people and Muslims Pappi Ndelu,

Pappi Ndelu, from Wandsworth, south-west London, said: “As an ethnic minority living in London, I was shocked and embarrassed to watch a racist children’s puppet show that is culturally insensitive towards black people and Muslims.” The show, which is performed at the company’s indoor amusement park in Westfield Shopping Centre, west London, depicts a puppet called Shadow being bullied by two white puppets. The puppet is completely covered in a black sheet with just spaces for eyes.

KIDZANIA Shadow the puppet offended Mr Ndelu and his family

Mr Ndelu said: "It looked like the character Shadow was wearing a hijab, they started saying Shadow was scary and black and ugly. “The two white puppets started talking about how they have a problem with Shadow's appearance. “The language that was being used by the two white puppets was frightening and appalling. “This really made me feel uncomfortable being a black African father seated right in the front row.” Mr Ndelu’s daughter was invited on stage to take part in the show, which later sees Shadow undergo a makeover. He said: “Suddenly the makeover was done, then Shadow suddenly appeared looking white, completely covered in white sheet looking exactly like the Klux Klux Klan. “Shockingly the whole audience in the theatre applauded and cheered. All the other white puppets also cheered as well and said: ‘Now you look pretty, friendly and not scary because you are not black anymore.’”

KIDZANIA Kidzania has rejected claims the show is racist

Mr Ndelu made an official complaint against the company, which is now investigating the claim. He said: "I think to have the puppet wearing the hijab was very irresponsible in the current climate. "When children are out they will see women wearing the hijab, and children take things at face value, how are they supposed to differentiate between what they heard and what they see on the street. It's completely offensive to Muslims and black people. It reinforces racial stereotypes." Kidzania denied the puppet was wearing a hijab and said: "This activity has never been interpreted as racist in any way. "Our staff force is a multi-racial team and we have never had a formal complaint either by staff or visitors."