Bob Iger Says DeSantis’ Attacks on Disney Are “Preposterous”
As the ink still dries on the new contract extension that will see Bob Iger stay at the helm of The Walt Disney Company through 2026, the Disney CEO sat down with CNBC’s David Faber to discuss a myriad of issues.
Among the topics touched upon by Iger was The Walt Disney Company’s ongoing battle with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Photo: Disney
DeSantis vs. Disney
The friction between Disney and DeSantis began last year when the Mouse House publicly criticized Florida’s Parental Rights in Education bill, known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill to its detractors.
DeSantis quickly retaliated against Disney, dissolving the Disney-appointed Reedy Creek Improvement District. He also made his battle with Disney the launching point for his 2024 Presidential campaign.
Photo: Getty Images
Disney has since sued the DeSantis administration in federal court. The company argues that the governor’s actions were retaliatory and a violation of Disney’s First Amendment rights.
“Not Our Goal To Be Engaged in a Culture War”
Iger reiterated that Disney has a First Amendment right to say what they believe. He also admitted, however, that being in a political battle is a no-win situation.
“It’s not our goal to be engaged in a culture war,” the Disney CEO said.
Photo Credit: ABCNews.go.com
With that being said, Iger believes his company is in the right.
“What we’ve said publicly is that we are concerned that he has decided to retaliate against the company for a position the company took on pending legislation in that state. And frankly, the company was within its right even though I’m not sure it was handled very well. It was within its right to speak up on an issue constitutionally protected right to free speech. And to retaliate against the company in a way that would be harmful to the business was not something that we can sit back and tolerate. And so we have filed a lawsuit to protect our First Amendment rights there and to protect our business.”
Photo: The Wall Street Journal
While Iger may not want to see the company entangled in cultural battles, he was also unwilling to let DeSantis’ attacks go unanswered. Commenting on the governor’s claim that Disney has become “woke” and has attempted to “sexualize children,” Iger was resolute in his defense.
“The notion that Disney is in any way sexualizing our children quite frankly is preposterous and inaccurate,” Iger said.
Photo: Getty Images
Are Politics Hurting Attendance?
When asked if he believed that the company’s political battle was hurting attendance at Walt Disney World, Iger quickly dismissed the idea.
In fact, the Disney boss rejected the narrative that Disney World’s attendance has had problems at all. Referring specifically to reports surrounding the July 4th holiday, Iger stated “Measuring attendance at Disney World on July 4 didn’t really factor in temperature which is about 100 degrees—and 99% humidity on that day.”
As Disney and DeSantis prepare to take their battle to court, Iger knows that his political headaches are not over yet. Despite this, the newly extended CEO is not backing down.
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