Former Disneyland Peter Pan performer Dylan Gadeke has defended viral TikToker Toni, saying her interactions with him never crossed the boundaries expected during a character experience.

Gadeke, who said he played Peter Pan at Disneyland from 2014 to 2021, addressed the controversy in a TikTok video posted on August 17.

Toni, who uses the account name babytoni99, has faced online accusations of stalking Peter Pan performers after videos showed her interacting with different actors over more than a decade.

Gadeke acknowledged that her enthusiasm sometimes made him feel “a little awkward and uncomfortable”. However, he said her behaviour never crossed a line during his time as Peter Pan.

Former performer backs Toni

Gadeke said Toni appeared more enthusiastic than most Disneyland guests. He said she did not try to obtain personal information about him outside his role at the theme park.

He also said she followed Disneyland’s guest guidelines during their interactions.

The former performer criticised the online harassment aimed at Toni. He urged viewers to stop attacking her over the videos circulating on social media.

Gadeke said performers should have a say when deciding whether a guest’s behaviour becomes inappropriate or crosses into harassment.

Gadeke describes separate encounter

Gadeke then described another encounter that he said was far more concerning.

According to the former performer, a woman repeatedly approached him while he worked at Disneyland. He said she eventually described his dog in detail.

Gadeke said his social media accounts were private at the time. He also said he had no idea how the woman obtained information about his personal life.

The situation later escalated, according to Gadeke.

He claimed the woman began waiting in the cast-member parking lot after his shifts. He said she appeared after every shift for about a month and silently watched him.

Gadeke also alleged that the woman later recognised members of his family during a Disneyland visit.

He said she followed his relatives around the park for an entire day.

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Experience affected his work

Gadeke said the experience left him feeling unsafe.

He explained that it also changed the way he interacted with children while playing Peter Pan.

Instead of relying solely on traditional character interactions, he began organising games such as hide-and-seek and duck, duck, goose.

The former performer said the experience demonstrated the difference between enthusiastic fandom and behaviour that makes a performer feel threatened.

Gadeke said questions about harassment should involve the performer, the company and the guest involved.

He again called on viewers to stop targeting Toni online.

Referring to the performers who play Peter Pan at Disneyland, Gadeke concluded by reminding viewers that “They’re men in tights.”

The controversy highlights the difficult boundary performers can face between engaging with enthusiastic fans and protecting their personal privacy and safety.