This story has been shared 102,949 times. Employees were walking out in protest and ranting to the media. Amid the melee, DeSantis issued a warning over Disney getting involved in the legislation. News Analysis. In a letter sent to Disney workers, Chapek said the bill was not just an issue about a bill in Florida, but instead yet another challenge to basic human rights., You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down, he wrote. Disney is still evil and still pushing CRT. The thought process here stems from the high cost of real estate in California relative to Florida. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Michael Arnold. Behind the scenes, I was not, as a father of children ages five, four, and two, comfortable with the continuation of Disneys special arrangement, DeSantis wrote in his memoir. Contribution In March, Disney became entangled in a heated dispute with Gov. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. ", FLORIDA REPUBLICANS CONDEMN 'WOKE' DISNEY, URGE MORE BOYCOTTS BY CONSERVATIVES AGAINST THE 'ACTIVIST MACHINE'. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, 2024 frontrunner: Trump wins CPAC straw poll in a landslide, Ron DeSantis skips CPAC as organization faces scandals, Florida bill would require bloggers writing about DeSantis to share pay info, DeSantis rips other GOPers for acting like potted plants in face of woke ideology fight: report, Chapek, who had stayed silent on the bill, re-evaluate Disneys special tax district, called Reedy Creek, signing a law to strip Disney World of its Reedy Creek control on Monday. Timing 'surprising' says senior analyst on Bob Iger stepping down. Periodically, we must employ comment moderation due to an influx of spammers. We need Disneys partnership in getting the bills heading to [Gov. WebBob Chapek. Chapek released Black Widow on Disney+ without checking whether the films star, Scarlett Johansson, minded. These cast members were already reticent to uproot their lives for Disney. Disney has since stated it will no longer donate to political campaigns. The streaming service launched in November. Kathleen Kennedy Cites Impact Of Women, Artists Of Color And LGBTQ On Industry Amid Disney Dont Say Gay Backlash PGA Awards. Keating, who has written about how Disney's activism is bad for business, said Disney's decisions on the Florida bill has meant the company is catching heat from both sides of the political spectrum. Starting immediately, we are increasing our support for advocacy groups to combat similar legislation in other states, Chapek wrote, possibly referring to a similar measure proposed in Georgia and bills targeting transgender children in Texas and Idaho. During the pandemic, Disney has ramped up its usage of high school performers at theme parks, especially Magic Kingdom. ", Nothing in the Florida legislation itself mentions the word gay. Florida governor Ron DeSantis is calling out former Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Chapek. But this time is different. Thats not even a dig on Chapek. Many speculated about Bob Igers future plans after his shocking decision to resign as CEO of The Walt Disney Company in February, including whether he intended to run for president. Disney CEO Bob Chapek has had private phone calls this year with House Republican leaders including House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La. News Analysis. 2016 www.independentsentinel.com. Apparently, a Texas high school doesnt know what year it is and still performs a routine featuring Indianettes.. The debut of "Disney Enchantment" during "The World's Most Magical Celebration" Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary at Magic Kingdom on Sept. 30, 2021, in Orlando, Florida. WebBob Chapek. Chief executive Bob Chapek doesnt think so. Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek privately complained to Florida Gov. He will be the seventh CEO in Disney's nearly 100-year history. This performance should never have gone forward. Even so, Disney has strengthened the belief that its park price increases are out of control. Iger planned to run for POTUS at one point. Employees were walking out in protest and ranting to the media. We've received your submission. Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites. Despite the acrimony this month and a rare public clash last summer with an A-list star, Scarlett Johansson the company has been rebuilding after the depths of the pandemic and posted stellar financial results in February for its most recent quarter. That explains the inconsistency. With Jobs, Iger said he "was never disappointed" with Disney's integration of Pixar. Home; Video; Trump Investigations; Right Wing Extremism; Opinion; Impeachment; Corruption; Foreign Policy; Chapek wrapped up the session and thanked all of the participants. Iger said he's felt himself become increasingly dismissive of other people's ideas, a sign he should let someone else lead Disney. WATCH: Disney's Bob Iger turns CEO job to Chapek. The Wrap has reported that Imagineers have campaigned for Disney to reconsider. Disney has gotten too expensive.. Chapek has been overseeing the company's parks, experiences and products division since those divisions were combined in 2018. Market data provided by Factset. The task force will develop strategy and action plans to engage with LGBTQ+ employees, community partners and content creators. Robert Chapek. A growing number of participants in the retreat were expressing reluctance with pressing ahead given the climate at the company. The event concluded with a fireside chat from Nadine Smith of Equality Florida and Latondra Newton, Disneys Chief Diversity Officer. Chapek's was named chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in 2015 and his tenure was marked by the opening of Shanghai Disney Resort in 2016, the doubling of the Disney Cruise Line fleet, the addition of immersive Star Wars lands at Disneyland and Disney World, the expansion of Marvel-inspired attractions worldwide and massive development projects at Disneyland Paris. Chapek began his Disney career in 1993 as the marketing director for the company's Buena Vista Home Entertainment division, which at that time was focused on VHS tapes. (ABC/ RANDY SAGER). Employees were walking out in protest and ranting to the media. Conversely, Chapek believes that his best approach is to avoid politics altogether, a legitimate impossibility for a company like Disney. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. You can look at the comments section for any Disney discussion, and its an inevitable statement from some. Chapek's promotion comes at a time when Disney is facing challenges from the global coronavirus outbreak. On top of the stock woes, Disney CEO Bob Chapek has become a punching bag for cultural critics. All Rights Reserved. Send us a tip using our annonymous form. Ron DeSantis said he advised former Disney CEO Bob Chapek to stay out of a political battle over legislation in his state limiting discussion of sex and gender in public schools, according to the Republican's forthcoming book. An amendment from GOP state Sen. Jeff Brandes that would have widened the classroom instruction ban to human sexuality, and not specifically orientation and identity, failed to pass. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. John Oliver Calls Bob Chapeks Explanation For Disney Donations To Dont Say Gay Politicians Actively Insulting. After weeks of internal strife and external controversy surrounding the Walt Disney Companys lack of public response to the Dont Say Gay legislation in Florida, TV. Original story, Wednesday morning: Disney CEO Bob Chapek said during the companys shareholders meeting on Wednesday that he will be meeting with Florida Gov. Colleagues perceive former CEO Bob Iger as a highly political person with an acute mind for such situations. "He was very, very concerned about Lucasfilm - in many respects his baby, his legacy and there was a trust there too that I think we demonstrated, that we could be trusted," Iger said about Lucas. (Gerardo Mora / Getty Images) Under pressure from LGBTQ activists and progressive employees some of whom who have walked out of the job in protest Chapeks initial responses to the bill were tepid at best, as he wanted to maintain solid relationships with the legislators. Its bad for business and even worse for the Disney brand. Some folks took offense at that, which isdefinitely a take. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. We need you to be there for us when it is hard and when it counts.. It sounds about right. New Trailer Drops For Olaf Short Once Upon A Snowman, Wine Bar George at Disney Springs Offering Brunch Starting March 30th. But DeSantis pushed on, signing a law to strip Disney World of its Reedy Creek control on Monday. (Gerardo Mora / Getty Images). REUTERS. The more combustible of those situations unfolded over House Bill 1557, the so-called Dont Say legislation. Disneys CEO transition from Bob Iger to Bob Chapek marked a shift from an outspoken, famous CEO with political ambitions, to a largely unfamiliar name whose Bob Chapek (C) Chairman of Parks, Experiences, and Products for the Walt Disney Company speaks during the dedication ceremony for the "Rise of the Resistance" attraction opening at Galaxy's Edge at Disneys Hollywood Studios on December 04, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. Disney chief executive Bob Chapek speaks during a ceremony on Sept. 11, 2015, at Hong Kong Disneyland. At the time, I dismissed those concerns, as Chapek had headed Disneys lucrative home video division. "Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that. Ron] Desantis desk vetoed. Chapek is credited for bringing Disney's home entertainment division into the digital ag Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. During the evening, Charlee Corra also took the stage and announced that he along with parents Sheri and Roy P. Disney, the great-nephew of Walt Disney, would match $250,000 in donations to HRC. They allegedly alsomade the workplace environment hostile. Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. Theyve invested millions of dollars in donations to political parties and more over the last 25 years, theyve given in-kind donations (like tickets to the parks and hotel The Mickey-Shaped Treats Trending Right Now! "Right now, the course that Bob has laid is one that we fully intend to follow and I think will pay dividends for our shareholders for years to come," he said. A Disney shareholder is speaking out against the company's involvement in Florida politics by actively opposing the Republican-led "Parental Rights in Education" bill championed by Republican Gov. Meet a Disney Cast Member Advocating for Accessible Technology, Where Was Grogu During The Sequel Trilogy? Theyve invested millions of dollars in donations to political parties and more over the last 25 years, theyve given in-kind donations (like tickets to the parks and hotel stays) to political parties, and theyve hired lobbyists. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Chapek responded by saying that his very first trip after being named the new CEO was to visit ABC News. "His history in all the divisions that really matter really is very supportive of him taking on that role. On Monday, Disney and CEO Bob Chapek sent an internal memo following reports that the company had donated thousands of dollars to Florida representatives that supported and voted for the Parental Rights in Education bill. Interested in booking a Disney Vacation? 2023 CNBC LLC. ", WATCH: Disney's Bob Iger turns CEO job to Chapek. He is the guilty party. Chapek walked back his previous statement to employees that the company could fight against bigotry through its creative content, saying Disney needed to be standing up for the rights of all.. ABC News anchor Amy Robach was recorded on a hot mic claiming the network spiked a story exposing Jeffrey Epstein three years ago. Disney CEO Bob Chapek downplayed criticism of ABC News. All Rights Reserved. The actress was let go from the popular Lucasfilm and Disney series on Disney+ after she took to social media to, as Lucasfilm described it, post abhorrent material that compared the current divided political climate in the U.S. to Nazi Germany. Fridays move came after Chapek announced in a Disney shareholder meeting Wednesday that the company would pledge $5 million to LGBTQ organizations focused on legal protections for the community a donation HRC rejected the same day. It should never have reached that point, though. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Ron DeSantis said that ex-Disney CEO Bob Chapek complained to him about the pressure he was under from the left [WOKEs] to join in on the Governors new education bill restricting gender identity lessons, PK-3. DeSantis signs bill placing Disney district u Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, Buster Murdaugh got 'very drunk' with dad 2 months after mom, brother murdered: source, What's next for Buster Murdaugh after dad's murder conviction, life sentence, Prince Harry was scared to lose Meghan Markle after fight that led to therapy, Prince Harry says psychedelics are fundamental part of his life, Inside Scheana Shay, Raquel Leviss heated confrontation about Tom Sandoval affair, Tom Sizemore And The Dangerous Burden of Desperation, Tom Sandoval, Raquel Leviss planned to tell Ariana Madix about affair. Robert ChapekPolitical Campaign Contributions2016 Election Cycle. Abbott issued an order, which was blocked by a state judge, to have parents investigated for potential child abuse charges if their transgender children receive hormone blockers. This site uses different types of cookies. Pushaw did not immediately return a request for comment Friday. All rights reserved. He states his positions situationally for his personal profit. Bob Chapek was born Robert Alan Chapek on August 21, 1960, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Under pressure from LGBTQ activists and progressive employees some of whom who have walked out of the job in protest Disney's Chapeks eventually criticized the Florida legislation, paused all political giving in Florida and apologized to employees. Now, you could argue that inflation is real during the pandemic. Chapek has been overseeing the company's parks, experiences and products division since those divisions were combined in 2018. Change isn't necessarily bad.". Chapek has a career as an American media executive. Theyve invested millions of dollars in donations to political parties and more over the last 25 years, theyve given in-kind donations (like tickets to the parks and hotel stays) to political parties, and theyve hired lobbyists. Beliefs like that hurt the brand. Iger said he had to convince founders that he wouldn't disappoint them after completing an acquisition. Disney CEO Bob Chapek gets close to GOP lawmakers ahead of Iger, 70, is leaving Disney after running the company from 2005 to 2020. Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek last year complained to Florida Gov. Park officials reeeeeaaally dont want headlines with racist chant in them. WebOn Monday, Chapek sent a Morrell-approved company-wide email claiming that he preferred to speak through Disney content and behind-the-scenes machinations. You will be redirected back to your article in, David Lindley Dies: Session Star And Multi-Instrumentalist With Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan Was 78, Film Independent Spirit Awards: Livestream + Latest Winners List, Will Moviegoers Lend An Ear To Children Of The Corn Remake? Initially, complaints arose about the fact that Disney wasnt letting the drill team wear their headdresses. Iger, 69, will remain with the company through 2021 to handle Disney's content initiatives such as Disney+, with the expectation that Chapek will eventually take control of all roles. Alas, Chapek fell too deeply in love with the idea of increasing Disney+ subscriber numbers. Its even possible that nobody was seriously vetting at all. "Parks is the only business they have, before [streaming], that's direct to consumer.". It wasn't the reason I left, but it was a contributing factor.". You will be redirected back to your article in, Paramount To Pay $122.5M To Settle 2019 Shareholder Lawsuit Over Viacom-CBS Merger, Film Independent Spirit Awards: Livestream + Latest Winners List, posted stellar financial results in February, Prolific Actor Dies At 61 After Aneurysm; Hollywood Reax + Career In Photos, Eyes $51M+ Opening In U.S., A Record For Rocky Spinoff Franchise & Amazon, SAG-AFTRA And Casting Directors Weigh In On Self-Tape Controversy, Oscar Winner Guillermo del Toro On The Films That Lit His Fuse. Heinz, and in advertising at J. Walter Thompson. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Legal Statement. Disney CEO Chapek Bob Chapek Tuesday said he doesnt really see Disney as characterizing itself as left-leaning or right-leaning responding to a shareholder who accused Hollywood and the company of a double standard in firing Gina Carano from The Mandalorian because shes a conservative. Speaking to you, reading your messages, and meeting with you have helped me better understand how painful our silence was, Chapek wrote. Unfortunately, theresnothing inclusive about the Dont Say Gay bill. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The decision by the largest employer in Central Florida could have a major impact on election fundraising for both parties, and it escalates in his war of words with Gov. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. All Rights Reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. This is not just about Bob Chapek and Disney, she told the audience. While the Walt Disney Company and its executives had a right to indulge in woke activism, Florida did not have to place the company on a pedestal while they do so especially when the companys activism impacted the rights of parents and the well-being of children, DeSantis added. 2016 Election Cycle. The controversial Project Veritas is the same group that published footage of ABC anchor Amy Robach claiming ABC News executives killeda story that would have exposed the now-deceased sex offenderJeffrey Epsteinthree years ago. watch now. He did not want Disney to get involved, but he was getting a lot of pressure to weigh in against the bill, DeSantis writes. He knew how to grow the business while adjusting to the changing marketplace, which was intense." Look no further! The email said a member of his staff would hand-deliver a copy of the bill to Disneys Orlando headquarters and asked for gas money to get him there. Knowing my grandchildren will never experienced true Disney magic without political agendas. We get pressured all the time, Chapek told DeSantis, according to the governors book. Everyone knew that was a lie. Disney has *deep breath* eliminated Magical Express, exchanged free FastPasses for paid Lightning Lane experiences, required Park Passes, temporarily removed the dining plan and most annual passes, and raised many food/drink prices. DeSantis backs down from his commitment to doing whats best for Floridas children and parents. By Laurn Alexa | Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 12:02pm Californias governor has similarly stated his desire to keep Disney on the West Coast in a place that actually represents the values of your workers.. Chapek allegedly told him he didnt want to get involved but hadnt seen anything like it, but thats not what he said in public. 02:35. Chapeks statement comes after a week of criticism from fans and employees about his delayed reaction to the bill, which he opposed only after it passed both houses of the Legislature and was sent to DeSantis for his signature. But Im an ally you can count on, and I will be an outspoken champion for the protections, visibility and opportunity you deserve.. The Courage to be Free: Floridas Blueprint for American Revival, Fidelity Finds 401Ks Lost 25% of Their Value in 2022, Biden Says He May Be a White Boy, But Hes Not Stupid, One State Will Make It illegal for Vaccinated Donors to Give Blood, Rumors Are That John Fetterman Is Essentially Brain Dead, Dr. Malone on the Possible US Role in the Development of Coronavirus, They Set Us Up! Bombshell J6 Footage Shows Metro Police Discussion, Prophylaxis Nasal Spray Might Put an End to Vaccines. Political Party Stances; 51% : Florida Gov. We want to hear from you. But that's neither good nor bad. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. In totality, its one problematic mistake, though. Chapek is in the third-year of a three-year contract as CEO that expires in February.