Being a mascot is dangerous business. Recently Nintendo contracted an actor to wear a Donkey Kong costume for a Los Angeles Zoo promotional event. Unfortunately, the actor claims that Nintendo did not provide proper oversight, which lead to a serious heart condition and surgery.
According to the actor in question, Parker Mills, the working conditions were horrible. His attorneys say he was denied breaks and he was not issued ice packs in order to keep him cool inside the suite. This caused overheating and a lot of stress. These harsh conditions caused Mills to suffer an aortic dissection. That’s when the inner wall of your aorta tears. It’s a very serious condition that could lead to death. As a result, Mills has had a permanent heart defibrillator installed in his chest. As a result, Mills is suing the Japanese game giant. Nintendo has not yet commented on the lawsuit.
Source: The Los Angeles Times