Disney: Man who staged wedding had already been convicted

The man who allegedly staged a wedding with a 9-year-old girl at Disneyland Paris is Jacky Jhaj. According to the BBC , the alleged groom, 39, is a British national and has been on the UK's list of sexual predators since 2016, when he was found guilty of sexual activities with two 15-year-old girls . In France, Jhaj appeared in court in Meaux, in the greater Paris area, where he is believed to have been charged with fraud, breach of trust, money laundering and identity theft.

Police were called on the morning of Saturday, June 21, by one of the actors hired to play the bride's father, when he realized that the wedding was to a 9-year-old child . According to the French public prosecutor's office, the girl of Ukrainian origin arrived in France two days before the event planned to take place at Disneyland, but did not suffer any sexual or psychological violence , having only been "forced to play the role of the bride." The statement also says that the park was "deceived" by the event organizer, who used a false Latvian identity to secure the venue. The girl's mother was also reportedly detained by French authorities and allegedly told investigators that she wanted to organize "a princess day" for her daughter. Prosecutors also claim that the video was broadcast on social media.

According to The Sun , Jacky Jhaj is an actor and director who lives in Feltham, west London. Between 2016 and 2020, he served a prison sentence after being found guilty of four counts of having sex with minors. The newspaper says that the man was known to drive around London's suburbs offering alcohol to young girls , claiming to be a Hollywood producer. The Metropolitan Police issued a statement confirming that the man is wanted for failing to comply with a sexual prevention order and a requirement to be notified of the sex offenders' register. "We are aware that this man has been arrested in France on other grounds and our officers are in contact with the French authorities."

In 2023, the British man hired hundreds of children to act as his fans in a video that simulated a film premiere. According to the BBC, 90 children aged between six and 14 and 100 young women aged between 16 and 24 were hired through casting agencies, and were allegedly instructed to scream for Jhaj and touch him, without being informed of the man's real identity. The case forced him to plead guilty to failing to comply with a sexual prevention order and a requirement to notify the sexual predators register, says the Telegraph. Months later, the man again made a production with children staging the funeral of Lauris Zaube, a Latvian man who disappeared at a New Year's party. In September 2024 , Jhaj caused an explosion in a truck that appeared to be from the BBC and filmed himself walking naked in front of the flames in another video that caused controversy.