A recent report confirmed that Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen was involved in placing a message about the Hiroshima atomic bombing inside the “It’s a Small World” attraction at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. The message took the form of a handmade doll holding a small sign that read “Remember Hiroshima.”
The doll was positioned in the Asia section of the ride on August 3rd, just three days ahead of the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. It was designed to blend in with the other animatronic figures.
A protestor displays a doll holding a sign that says “Remember Hiroshima” in It’s a Small World at Disneyland – DCX Growth Accelerator
According to a phone call with Fox News, Cohen was behind the action, which he described as a form of peaceful protest intended to raise awareness about the use of nuclear weapons and their lasting consequences.
Background on the Doll and Message
The doll appeared inside the attraction in late July 2025, around the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing on August 6, 1945. Park guests began posting images and videos of the doll on social media, sparking speculation about its origin. Initially, Disneyland did not comment on how the doll was placed inside the ride or who was responsible for it.
Paint the Night Parade at Disneyland – YouTube, WDW News Today
TikTok user mamahuahua in a statement to WDWNT revealed that she was involved with placing the doll on the attraction.
Yes we put a Japanese doll that said “Remember Hiroshima” onto the It’s A Small World ride at Disneyland. Why?
It is the 80th anniversary of the bombing; an important reminder of what war does to kids.
Hiroshima was a city full of children—tiny, happy bodies full of promise one moment, and murdered the next. Playgrounds turned to graveyards. Sound familiar? Happening now in Palestine, Myanmar, Ukraine, Sudan, and countless other countries around the world.
Guests quickly spotted and reported the doll to Cast Members. A Cast Member then spoke with mamahuahua about the violation of parks rules, at which point she left quietly.
Cohen’s Response
In early August, Cohen publicly acknowledged his involvement through a statement to Fox News. He confirmed that he had commissioned the doll and that collaborators helped place it inside the ride without Disneyland’s permission.
The whole idea of the small world exhibit is that it’s a small world after all. You got all the children from the different countries around the world being together, loving each other. And we put a doll in there that says, ‘Remember Hiroshima.’ I mean, that’s what was supposed to happen after the bomb in Hiroshima. We were supposed to remember what we did there and say, ‘Never again.’ And we’ve, we’ve ignored that.
Doug Cameron’s Involvement
Alongside Cohen, activist and creative strategist Doug Cameron also played a direct role in the stunt. Cameron, who previously collaborated with Cohen on anti-war initiatives through his agency DCX Growth Accelerator, entered Disneyland with his young daughter and reportedly helped place the Hiroshima doll inside It’s a Small World.
The “It’s a Small World” attraction at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World – YouTube, DLP Welcome
Unlike TikTok user mamahuahua, who left after a brief exchange with Cast Members, Cameron was reportedly detained by Disney security. Multiple outlets, including IndieAgency, report that he was then issued a lifetime ban from Disneyland for violating park rules.
Cameron later defended the protest as part of a broader campaign to raise awareness about nuclear weapons, echoing Cohen’s message that the Hiroshima anniversary should serve as a global reminder of the devastation caused by war.
Disneyland’s Response
Disneyland quickly removed the sign, and security guards escorted the activist responsible out of the park. In a brief statement, the company said that the addition was unauthorized and did not align with its policies on safety and guest experience. It did not mention Cohen by name but emphasized that any modification to park attractions must go through official channels and approval processes.
The “It’s a Small World” attraction at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World – YouTube, DLP Welcome
A spokesperson for the park added that the matter is under internal review. No criminal charges have been filed as of yet.
Broader Reaction and Legal Questions
Reactions to the stunt have been mixed. Some praised the message as a reminder of the costs of war, while others criticized the method as an inappropriate use of a children’s attraction. Legal analysts say that placing unauthorized items in a theme park could potentially raise safety and liability concerns, especially in a high-security environment like Disneyland.
The “It’s a Small World” attraction at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World – YouTube, DLP Welcome
So far, Disney has not announced whether it will pursue legal action against Cohen or anyone else involved. Security procedures at Disneyland are known to be rigorous, and questions remain about how the doll was successfully placed inside the ride.
Looking Ahead
As of now, Disneyland has not indicated whether it will change its internal security protocols following the incident. Meanwhile, Cohen has stated he does not regret the action and hopes it will inspire conversations about peace and nuclear disarmament.
Walt Disney in Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color (1966), Walt Disney Productions
While the physical doll may no longer be inside the ride, the debate over protest, public space, and corporate boundaries continues outside the gates of the theme park.
What do you think of the Ben & Jerry’s co-founder being behind a Hiroshima protest doll in a children’s attraction at Disneyland? Let us know in the comments below!
If these people REALLY want to make a difference for these third world hellscapes they virtue signal on behalf of then they should take themselves over there and DO SOMETHING! Spend their hundreds of thousands of dollars and improve the area instead of doing things from the safety of America where the problems those places face do not face us here, at least if we keep the mongrel out like we SHOULD.