A furious father has accused a water park in Kansas of racism after it canceled his son’s birthday party when 500 of his friends arrived.
Chris Evans said he signed a contract with Summit Waves Aquatic Facility to host 250 people for his son’s birthday party for $2,000.
However, officials said that around 500 people showed up.
On Tuesday, Evans said at a news conference that they were told “this event doesn’t represent Lee’s Summit Waves” and that the party was canceled because the situation made a staff ‘uncomfortable.’
A viral video shows the family having a heated argument with a park employee, with a family member saying: “If this was a large group of white folks, there wouldn’t be a problem.”
The employee then shook her head no, but Evans said: “I know you don’t know us, I just want to know why you’re uncomfortable with us.”
The water park issued a statement on Tuesday and apologized to the family because of ‘missed processes’ and ‘miscommunication’ that resulted in the cancelation of the reservation.
It said that the department failed to arrange security for the party, which the Evans family paid for.
Park officials also said that 500 people arrived for the party but the family claimed that the event was canceled even before the teens showed up.
“My kids were heartbroken that the party was canceled,” Evans said. “They are good kids who make good grades, have bright futures and do not deserve to be treated like this. And that goes for all the kids at the park that day.”
The frustrated father continued: “It appears to have been canceled simply because the park staff was uncomfortable with a group of Black teenagers having a pool party to enjoy the end of the summer.”
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