After a security guard at an Oklahoma Six Flags theme park confronted Bailey Breedlove for wearing shorts that were “too short,” she was left “traumatized.” When the officer asked Breedlove to cover up or leave the park because her legs were visible, she was shocked. “My experience there was traumatizing. I purchased tickets and parking online, which was a lot of money,” Breedlove wrote on Facebook. She continued, “My family and I were welcomed into your park just fine at 5 pm.” After that time period, things changed radically.
“We were having fun,” she said on Facebook, “enjoying rides and spending money on what we thought was going to be a great vacation spot in Oklahoma City. About 7 pm, my daughter was yelled at by a park police officer for rolling down a hill on her heels right next to me. I was holding her hand. Then she proceeded to follow me and grabbed my shoulder to turn me around and proceeded to tell me my shorts were ‘too short.’”
Breedlove was given an ultimatum.
“I committed no crime and proceeded to walk to my boyfriend as I am autistic and have a hard time talking to officers. She followed me, yelling and calling for backup. Then your incompetent (Six Flags) manager showed up and began body shaming me.”
The young mother’s negative interaction had a horrible effect on her, worsening her tension due to her diagnosis.
“I was told I needed to go buy new shorts, which I am not obligated to purchase anything I don’t want to. Then I was threatened with criminal trespassing when I agreed to buy new shorts so my family could enjoy their vacation. I was then pushed and escorted toward the entrance.”
That’s when the officer took the matter to a new level.
“Accepting this, we were about to leave and were blocked by your female officer from leaving, and she pulled out her cuffs and demanded my ID. When we asked for probable cause, their answer was ‘because they are the police.’ At this point, we started recording, so we do have video of the unlawful tactics.”
Breedlove requested information but was turned down.
“They wouldn’t provide us with badge numbers, and I was terrified I was about to go to jail over a pair of shorts. Your officers had my 11-year-old daughter crying hysterically, thinking her mother was about to be arrested. Your policies are vague and confusing, and the way you body-shame and discriminate is unlawful.”
All Breedlove wanted was some basic respect, but she didn’t feel like she got that at Six Flags.
“I paid a lot of money at your park for our family vacation, and I believe I deserve a refund for the trauma caused to my family over a pair of shorts on a hot day. I will not be letting this go as this is 2021 and not middle school. The Oklahoma police department has been contacted as well as an attorney. I have a five-year ban now but will not be returning to any of your parks if this is how you treat women and law-abiding citizens and visitors. You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
What are your thoughts on this mother’s experience?
