An incident involving Black dolls during a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans has drawn a strong response, with the city’s mayor condemning the display as “deeply offensive” and “unacceptable.” The controversy arose after images and footage from the February 14 Krewe of Tucks parade circulated online.
These visuals reportedly showed Black, Barbie-like dolls with strands of beads—a common Mardi Gras toss item—appearing to be tied around their necks. The parents of a 7-year-old girl who was present at the parade are now speaking out about the event.
According to her mom, Shayna Lee, the girl was thrown one of the dolls at some point, but she didn’t grasp what was happening right away.
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She told WWL, “At first I was actually in shock. I was because I was like… there is no way, out of all things that somebody could have thrown off of a float. This… And it’s Black History Month. I’m not understanding how I, of all people or my family, was the chosen one to get this doll. And I was very upset because we have been teaching my daughter about, you know, Black history and racism and things like that.”
“She didn’t understand why she couldn’t have it. And that’s not a conversation to be having with a 7-year-old,” the father, George Lee, added in a separate interview with The Times-Picayune.
Nola reported that the Krewe of Tucks issued a statement recognizing the sensitive nature of the incident, acknowledging that “given the history of racism in the country, state, city and Mardi Gras itself, we know that the image of beads tied around the neck of a Black doll is evocative of painful history.”
“We also recognize that racism is not a thing of the past but continues to plague our community and our country,” they continued. “It is very important that any racist gesture or sentiment be addressed swiftly.”
The organization confirmed they “quickly” identified the participating riders and “swiftly and permanently terminated” their membership.
The organization clarified that they had purchased approximately 30 White dolls and 30 Black dolls before the parade, with the intention of throwing them to children along the route. They noted that the practice of placing beads around toys to aid in throwing is “typical.” However, they plan to conduct an internal investigation to “shed light on any practices…that might facilitate ill-intentioned actions.”
“Our investigation continues, and as we gather more information, we will consider taking additional action,” they continued.
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The criticism was echoed by the city’s mayor.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno publicly condemned the display on social media, stating clearly that it was “deeply offensive, unacceptable, and has no place in our city.” She emphasized that the action violates “the very spirit of who we are,” as the city is founded on the principles of “respect, diversity, and inclusion,” and such actions seek to “demean or intimidate any member of our community.”
“Our celebrations, particularly those where our children and families attend, should be spaces of joy and unity, not exposure to hateful or harmful imagery,” Moreno continued.
The Lee family was welcomed to the city to enjoy the festivities on February 15.
“Today, the Mayor and the New Orleans City Council welcomed a family who caught a racist throw during yesterday’s Tucks parade to watch the festivities from Gallier Hall,” read a social media post that included several photos of the family.
“The mayor and council wanted to ensure that the visiting family sees the true spirit of New Orleans, a city rooted in love, respect, and inclusion,” their post read. “The hateful symbolism of that throw does not represent who we are!”
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