Disneyland Staff Halts Wedding

When a violin trio began to play near Sleeping Beauty’s Castle at Disneyland Paris, it looked like the start of a fairytale. About 100 guests waited for a ceremony that promised opulence, complete with custom costumes and a professionally made-up groom. But the illusion quickly shattered when the staff realized the bride was a 9-year-old girl. What followed was an international incident that raised questions about parental judgment, legal loopholes, and the ease of exploiting fantasy for sinister purposes.

What Disneyland Staff Noticed

On the morning of June 21, Disneyland Paris staff flagged something disturbing: a bride who looked alarmingly young.

A guest hired to play the child’s father alerted employees, saying he’d only realized the girl’s age shortly before the ceremony was set to begin. He’d been paid roughly 12,000 euros (about $14,000 USD) for his role. Park officials contacted authorities, halting what appeared to be a mock wedding between a British man and a Ukrainian child.

Who Was Behind the Ceremony?

French prosecutors identified the groom as 39-year-old British man Jacky Jhaj. Officials allege Jhaj is a convicted sex offender listed in the U.K.’s national registry and wanted for violating the terms of his supervision.

Jhaj allegedly used a fake Latvian ID to rent out a portion of Disneyland Paris, arranging the event in a private capacity before park opening hours. He reportedly hired around 100 French extras, professional musicians, and even used heavy makeup to obscure his identity. The child arrived in France just two days before the event. Authorities stated she was not forced to participate and had not been physically or sexually harmed.

Who Else Was Involved?

Three others were arrested: the child’s 41-year-old Ukrainian mother, a 55-year-old Latvian man, and a 24-year-old Latvian woman who was cast as the bride’s sister. After a medical exam confirmed the child was unharmed, both the mother and the older Latvian man were released.

The younger Latvian woman and Jhaj appeared before a judge in Meaux on June 23. Jhaj was formally charged with fraud, breach of trust, identity theft, and money laundering.

Disneyland’s Response

Disneyland Paris said they were deceived by the Jhaj’s fraudulent documentation. The venue, which can be rented for private events outside park hours, had no indication of the ceremony’s nature until staff and guests raised alarms. Prosecutors acknowledged that the park had been manipulated and were not complicit in the planning.

What’s Next?

Jhaj remains in pretrial detention, and investigations are ongoing. French authorities are cooperating with their U.K. counterparts as they look into how a convicted sex offender managed to orchestrate such an elaborate stunt across borders. Meanwhile, the incident has sparked broader concerns about the misuse of public venues and child protection failures.

While no harm was physically done to the child, the implications are chilling. A convicted sex offender allegedly staged an elaborate event mimicking a marriage to a minor, complete with hired guests and luxury trimmings. The story reads like a disturbing fairytale gone wrong. The only happy ending is that it was stopped.

References: Man arrested after allegedly attempting to marry 9-year-old at Disneyland | British man charged over ‘wedding’ with child, 9, at Disneyland Paris | Sex offender arrested after attempted ‘mock wedding’ with child at Disneyland Paris | Sex offender accused of mock Disneyland wedding with 9-year-old girl