A crew member of Virgin Atlantic, Keith Newman, was taken into custody following an incident at Disney’s Magic Kingdom where he allegedly shoved a teenage girl for cutting in line. The altercation occurred on February 20 at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride, a Disney attraction inspired by the character Princess Tiana from the movie “The Princess and the Frog.”
According to reports, Newman claimed the girl bypassed the queue and he attempted to stop her by extending his arm and stating there was a line. The teenager, however, tried to maneuver around him, resulting in Newman using both hands to push her back, causing her to stumble and spill water on herself.
Although the victim did not sustain any injuries or seek medical attention, Newman denied forcefully pushing her. Nonetheless, a friend of the teenager supported the girl’s account, stating she overheard Newman instructing the girl to respect the queue before physically pushing her back.
The friend further alleged that when the teenager resisted being pushed, Newman resorted to using both hands to shove her. Newman countered these claims by asserting that he merely extended his hand and the girl walked into it. Following an investigation, Newman was charged with battery and subsequently released on bail amounting to £734 ($1,000) before returning to his residence in Lemington, Newcastle, where he resides with his partner, also an airline employee.
Meanwhile, the victim’s father condemned Newman’s actions as “inexcusable,” emphasizing the importance of not resorting to physical force, especially when dealing with individuals significantly younger and of the opposite gender. He expressed concern that his daughter, who appeared younger than her actual age, was subjected to such treatment, underscoring the inappropriate nature of the steward’s actions.
