Brooke Shields is escalating her support for Casa Bonita performers who are demanding stronger workplace protections after one costumed worker claimed patrons had sexually grabbed him more than 20 times.
The Blue Lagoon actress, who serves as president of Actors' Equity Association, has backed calls for improved wages, better security and action over alleged safety failures at the Colorado restaurant owned by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. As part of that campaign, Shields entered Casa Bonita under a different name on 27 March 2026 to meet union members and personally deliver a letter to management.
Why Brooke Shields Visited Under Another Name
Shields made the booking under a fake name so management would not know she was coming before she entered the sprawling pink venue in Lakewood, near Denver. She described the visit as 'slightly an ambush', saying the union had first attempted to approach negotiations respectfully but believed that respect had not been returned. Actors' Equity later confirmed that Shields had joined union members for lunch before taking their letter directly to management.
The actress's involvement was not simply a celebrity appearance. Shields was elected president of Actors' Equity in May 2024 and now represents the interests of more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers across the US. Her screen career includes Pretty Baby, The Blue Lagoon and Endless Love, while she has also appeared in several Broadway productions.
Shields said the dispute had become personal after seeing the performers and the conditions in which they worked. 'It's just so disheartening because they're putting their lives at risk, and they're not being looked after', she said. She also claimed Parker and Stone had not contacted her during the dispute, describing the response from the owners as 'silence, radio silence'.
Performer Alleges Repeated Sexual Grabbing
Among the most serious claims is an allegation from part-time performer Joshua Emerson, who plays the restaurant's Moko the gorilla character. Emerson said he had been sexually grabbed by customers repeatedly while wearing the costume and claimed there was not enough security to protect performers interacting with diners. 'I've been grabbed sexually 20-plus times since working there', he said.
Emerson said he loved entertaining guests and regarded Parker and Stone as creative heroes, but claimed the ongoing dispute had made his work more difficult. Although customers are reportedly told while purchasing tickets that they must not touch performers, he alleged the warning was not displayed clearly when guests arrived. The union is seeking measures that would give employees greater protection and establish consequences for customers accused of crossing performers' boundaries.
The harassment claim forms part of a broader list of concerns raised by Casa Bonita's entertainment workers. Divers have alleged cases involving hypothermia, chlorine toxicity and a concussion sustained underwater, while union representatives say the venue lacks an emergency action plan and an active-shooter policy. These allegations have not been independently proven, and Casa Bonita did not respond to detailed questions about the individual incidents.
Union Fight Reaches South Park Creators
Casa Bonita's cliff divers, puppeteers, magicians and costumed characters voted to unionise after workers began organising with Actors' Equity and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees in 2024. The restaurant prominently markets its diving displays, puppet performances and other live entertainment as central parts of the visitor experience.
The union says performers earn between $21 and $26 an hour and are seeking pay closer to that received by servers, who can also collect tips. Shields claimed management had offered an increase of less than $1 an hour, despite performers making concessions relating to paid leave, holiday pay and other proposals. Labour filings involving the Casa Bonita operating company also appear in National Labor Relations Board records.
Casa Bonita said it valued its employees and their wellbeing but would not discuss continuing labour negotiations. Parker and Stone, who bought the restaurant after its bankruptcy and spent tens of millions of dollars rebuilding it, had not publicly responded to the specific harassment and safety allegations at the time of reporting.
For Shields, the performers remain central to the attraction's success. 'I've been on Broadway enough to know that it's the ensemble, it's the people that are there day in and day out, that are really sort of the backbone of what we do', she said.
