Universal Studios paid tribute to the Pulse victims with a special window that not many know about
A woman who identified herself as a Universal Orlando employee took to TikTok recently to remind viewers that the theme park has not forgotten the victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting.
On August 16, Elizabeth Atwood, who goes by thepixargirl on the social media platform, recorded herself walking to the memorial that Universal Studios had created in honor of six former employees who were tragically killed in the shooting.
“So I’m going to get very personal here for a second,” Atwood says in the clip. “Every time I come to Universal Studios and I’m right by the Horror Make-up Show right there, I have to come down right here [a reference to a gated entrance] and turn to my right and look above there.”
Atwood then pans her camera to a window on the side of the Pantages Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, where a mural lists the names of the six Universal Orlando team members who died: Jonathan Camuy, Anthony Laureano, Xavier Serrano, Shane Tomlinson, Luis Vielma and Jerald Wright. Underneath their names is a message that reads: “Carrying messages of peace, love & hope to the stars.”
“All those names that you see there — those are all the victims from the Pulse nightclub shooting that were part of our team at Universal Studios,” Atwood explains. “Unfortunately, for me, I know three of those people there. Gosh, I miss Xavier, Luis and Jerald. They were amazing guys … taken away so soon. So if you guys are ever at Universal Studios, come right over by here and the Horror Make-up Show and pay your respects for them.”
Atwood’s TikTok has since received nearly 97,000 views and almost 300 comments from some who were unaware that the mural even existed.
“Omg, I work at Uni and I didn’t know that, omg!!!” one person wrote in response. “I’m crying!! That’s so Amazing!!! GREAT JOB UNI!!”
“I’m always there and never knew this,” another added.
On June 12, 2016, a 29-year-old gunman walked into the gay nightclub Pulse and killed 49 partygoers while injuring more than 50 others — it was considered then the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
That fall, Attractions Magazine reported that Comcast NBCUniversal, the parent company of Universal Orlando, had donated $1 million to the OneOrlando Fund almost immediately following the tragedy. The theme also installed the window as a tribute to some of the victims.
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