Actress Brooke Shields recently visited Casa Bonita, a Mexican restaurant in Denver, Colorado, to deliver a letter asking for better wages for the restaurant’s performers. The restaurant, owned by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, features live entertainment, including cliff divers, puppeteers, and magicians.

Unionization Efforts

In April 2024, about 80 Casa Bonita performers unionized, represented by Actor’s Equity, with Shields as their leader. The group is seeking better protections for performers, including those who have experienced hypothermia and chlorine toxicity from the diving pool, as well as security for costumed performers who have been grabbed sexually by patrons.

The union is also asking for a raise to bring their wages more in line with the servers, who they claim make more. According to Shields, the performers are paid between $21 and $26 an hour, about $10 per hour less than servers who also receive tips.

Safety Concerns

Diver Bethel Lindsley, who oversees the dive team, expressed concerns about the lack of safety protocols at Casa Bonita. She stated that when she first started, there were no safety protocols in place for the dive team, and that divers have suffered injuries, including concussions and hypothermia.

Costumed character actor Joshua Emerson also shared his experiences, stating that he has been grabbed sexually by patrons over 20 times and that there is no security to protect performers.

Casa Bonita’s management has not responded to the specific accusations, but stated that they value the well-being of their team members and do not comment on ongoing labor negotiations.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.