A British man, Jacky Jhaj, has been charged in France for organizing a mock wedding involving a nine-year-old girl at Disneyland Paris, raising alarms about the safety of children in the entertainment industry. Jhaj, 39, who is already on the sex offenders register due to previous convictions for sexual activity with minors, was arrested after the event was revealed to be a sham, with an actor hired to portray the father of the bride alerting authorities.
The incident escalates concern following a series of troubling events linked to Jhaj. In 2023, he gained notoriety for staging a fake film premiere in London, employing hundreds of children hired from casting agencies, some as young as six, to act as adoring fans. Reports indicate these children were unaware of his identity, with teenage girls instructed to behave inappropriately around him.
Just last year, Johannesburg was seen providing gifts to young participants at dance auditions, subsequently being recognized by parents who had been informed of his criminal background. A BBC investigation uncovered him filming naked videos in front of a mock news lorry, further complicating his already tarnished reputation.
For the intended Disneyland event, Jhaj allegedly surrounded himself with a team of French extras, recruiting around 100 participants to partake in the faux ceremony, which was to be documented through video. Upon his appearance in front of a judge, Jhaj was charged with a variety of offenses including fraud, identity theft, and money laundering.
French authorities noted that the nine-year-old girl involved had not been harmed nor forced into the role, posing further questions about how such a production was permitted to unfold in the first place. Jhaj acquired the venue through a fraudulent Latvian ID, evoking disappointment from Disneyland Paris, which felt misled by the organizer.
In addition to his legal challenges in France, the Metropolitan Police in the UK have reiterated their concerns, affirming their continued collaboration with French authorities to address Jhaj's ongoing violation of terms from his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Given the substantial financial resources needed for these extravagant productions, the means of their funding remains a mystery—raising pressing questions about the oversight of child safety in entertainment ventures.
Jhaj’s activities have drawn significant media attention, and the outcry surrounding his case emphasizes the urgent need for stricter regulations and better protection measures for vulnerable children in the entertainment industry.
