Ollie Jonesfrom Kent (United Kingdom) He died last year, with only four years, because of leukodystrophy, a rare genetic disease that affects the spinal cord, the brain and also the peripheral nerves.
The small He was a big fan of Spider-Man, so his fatherLloyd Jones requested permission to local administrations to be able to put an engraving of the famous superhero in his grave. But they replied that he had to ask for authorization to the owner copyright of Marvel, Disney. And the movie studios denied him the wish.
Social networks have turned to help the father fulfill the wish for his son, and ask Disney to reconsider his refusal.
"I was sure that Disney would allow us to use the Spider-Man image"
They are statements by the father of little Ollie to the English newspaper Metro. But he was wrong. According to him, the reason alleged by Disney not to let him put the image of the spiderman on Ollie's gravestone is that he wants to preserve "Innocence and magic" of his characters.
They also replied that they do not want to be associated with their characters "With death":
"We follow a policy that began with Walt Disney himself that does not allow the use of characters on gravestones, cemeteries or other memorial markers or funeral urns."
But Ollie's father suspects that it may be an economic issue by copyright: "It makes no sense, his characters die in his movies (...) This meant everything to us."
Outrage on social networks
Undoubtedly, that a child dies and also so small and after a hard illness, destroys any father. And you are looking for a way out that helps you overcome (rather, spend) the moment and do everything in your hands for the child.
Ollie's parents, for example, they took him to visit Disneyland during his last vacation and organized a thematic funeral for his son, dedicated to Spider-Man, with a horse-drawn carriage decorated with red and blue balloons.
And although for now they have not been able to put a picture of the superhero in the child's grave, they received from Disney a picture with a drawing of the superhero and a handwritten message. But for the father, this is an insufficient gesture: "Really, I didn't expect it, it's another hard blow."
Therefore, Disney's refusal to grant this last wish to Ollie has outraged hundreds of people on social networks, who have shown their solidarity with the child's family and ask film studios to reconsider their position. They also reproduce the design that Lloyd sent to the studios and says:
"Ollie Jones, the most precious gift we could ask for. Your radiant smile will remain in our hearts and minds forever. We love you and we miss you every day. Our special hero."
Please reconsider for Spiderman being placed on Ollie Jones grave. He was 4 and this ment the world to him. The family isn't asking for handouts, just the permission to grant a dying kids wish. @Disney @Kevfeige @ TomHolland1996 pic.twitter.com/G7l8YG5K2q
- Michael nardone (@ Michaelnardone4) July 6, 2019
Among the initiatives, a request for signatures on the Avaaz platform, made by an old friend of Lloyd's school. A little help for shattered parents. His eldest daughter, Laillah, six, also suffers from leukodystrophy, Ollie's same disease.
His father, thanked the signs of affection on his Facebook page with these words:
"I just received three messages from people in the United States in the last hour furious with Disney who have promised to spread the word that they refused to let me put Spider-Man on the tombstone. So thanks for all the support received from my friends and family and everyone, and especially my brother Jason Jones, for pushing me here and my son Olliver for being so incredible that it made all this worthwhile. "
In the meantime, it seems impossible that a company as large as Disney, which seeks the smile of the little ones, denies such a small gesture to this family. Hopefully they change their minds and Ollie rests with his favorite superhero. We have already signed the petition here.
Photos | Facebook Lloyd Jones
