Ron DeSantis speaks at a press conference at the Eau Gallie High School aviation hangar on March 22, 2021. Colleagues perceive former CEO Bob Iger as a highly political person with an acute mind for such situations. 2016 www.independentsentinel.com. Shares of the company fell less than 2% in extending trading Tuesday. Chapek had apologized multiple times to the LGBTQ community and vowed to suspend all political donations in Florida as a result. Prior to 2016, Bob Igers political party was Democratic Independent (2016present). This priority caused him to lose sight of the challenges in working with Hollywood talents. Amid the melee, DeSantis issued a warning over Disney getting involved in the legislation. Heinz, and in advertising at J. Walter Thompson. "I didn't do the deal myself, but it was singular in terms of the pursuit one on one in some cases being as candid as I possibly could be, and I think as authentic as I could be, and developing a relationship, even if it was developed over a relatively brief period of time.". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. But Chapek stayed positive and dismissed the other criticism, saying ABC News has a stellar track record of being objective and reporting the news and will continue to do so in the future., ABC NEW SUSPENDS MATT GUTMAN FOR FALSELY REPORTING ALL OF KOBE BRYANT'S CHILDREN WERE ON DOOMED HELICOPTER, "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss," Danhof told Fox News following the meeting, referencing a famous The Who lyric. On Monday, Disney and CEO Bob Chapek sent an internal memo following reports that the company had donated thousands of dollars to Florida representatives Disney is still evil and still pushing CRT. VIDEO 3:58 03:58. Thats what has happened, though. The bills Republican sponsors have also been more openly vocal about LGBTQ students, with Baxley complaining about everybody now all about coming out when youre in school.. He stepped down last year as CEO, succeeded by Bob Chapek, but has stayed on as chairman through the coronavirus pandemic. Its bad for business and even worse for the Disney brand. And, we are committed to creating a more inclusive company and world, Chapek wrote in a memo to staff in March 2022. I truly believe we are an infinitely better and stronger company because of our LGBTQ+ community, he wrote. A 27-year veteran of the Walt Disney Company, Chapek, 60, has a proven track record with consumers having been instrumental in the growth of the company's parks, consumer products and studio film businesses. And if that doesnt happen, to get these bills repealed, she added. 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. I was glad to speak to Bob yesterday afternoon, and we had a very productive conversation about the need for Disney to put real muscle into stopping whats happening to their employees and to their fans.. Ron DeSantis, who accused the company of being woke a day earlier for opposing the bill. GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE, "Disneys management succumbed to political pressure from activists on the Left, and now its getting hit from the Left and the Right," Keating told Fox News Digital. Home; Video; Trump Investigations; Right Wing Extremism; Opinion; Impeachment; Corruption; Foreign Policy; 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. This site uses different types of cookies. That philosophy applies to Disneys park behavior during the pandemic as well. In a span of a month, Disney went from hiring the actress for a Tower of Terror movie to calling her ungrateful and selfishthe week she was having a baby. People like me will say, Gee, how come Disney has never said anything about China, where they make a fortune? DeSantis told Chapek, according to the book. Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient. And I think thats a world we should all live in harmony and peace., Disney+ Tops 100 Million Subscribers , CEO Bob Chapek Says. Ousted Disney chief executive Bob Chapek is set to receive a hefty paycheck following his exit. Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. "Mr. Chapek seems content to stick his head in the sand when it comes to the pervasive anti-conservative bias across ABC News, just as his predecessor Mr. Iger always was. Market data provided byFactset. Bob Chapek was born Robert Alan Chapek on August 21, 1960, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Those three acquisitions, which cost Disney roughly $15 billion, combined, turned Disney into an intellectual property behemoth. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Its gut-check time for every CEO and company [in] America. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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.. Thanks to a reportedly massive payment Disney sent to Johansson, the two parties have since made up. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Here are Disney's major milestones under Bob Iger's leadership. Corporate statements do very little to change outcomes or minds, he wrote, and are often weaponized by one side or the other to further divide. So what Disney says means nothing? At first, Chapek tried to remain on the sidelines, but LGBTQ employees and advocates pressured the exec to take a stand last March, asserting that the bill was a human rights issue. Were all familiar with the maxim that the sum is greater than the parts. Chapek allegedly told him he didnt want to get involved but hadnt seen anything like it, but thats not what he said in public. Now, of course, taking Specialty Preview, Ozy Media Closes In Wake Of Founder Carlos Watson Scandal, TikTok Introduces New Feature To Limit Screen Time For Teens, 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. Iger will assume the role of executive chairman. Chapek cared too much about his needs and not enough about those of others. The weeklong mess also elicited criticism from the right, as Fox News picked up on the DeSantis administrations portrayal of what they derided as woke Disney trying to get the state to change its ways. Park officials reeeeeaaally dont want headlines with racist chant in them. Disney chief executive Bob Chapek speaks during a ceremony on Sept. 11, 2015, at Hong Kong Disneyland. DeSantis signs bill stripping March 7th, 2022 Then-Disney CEO Bob Chapek comments further on the matter via an internal Disney memo. The Wrap has reported that Imagineers have campaigned for Disney to reconsider. The award winning agents at MickeyTravels are ready to help you book a truly magical vacation! Chapek has been overseeing the company's parks, experiences and products division since those divisions were combined in 2018. He got played here. Disney CEO Bob Chapek gets close to GOP lawmakers ahead of Interested in booking a Disney Vacation? Pushaw did not immediately return a request for comment Friday. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. We are hard at work creating a new framework for our political giving that will ensure our advocacy better reflects our values. That argument is correct, independent of where you may fall on the political spectrum. Iger, 70, is leaving Disney after running the company from 2005 to 2020. Labeledby opponentsas the Dont Say Gay bill, the legislation effectively bans discussion or teaching about the LGBTQ+ community and sexual orientation or gender identity in the states public school system from kindergarten to the third grade. ", Nothing in the Florida legislation itself mentions the word gay. He said the company was increasing support for advocacy All rights reserved. Disney hasnt brought back all its union-based performers yet, although it has taken recent steps to do so. In the interim, these shows have filled the void. Disney has gotten too expensive.. As the controversy over the Parental Rights in Education bill was coming to a head, Chapek called me, DeSantis writes, he did not want Disney to get involved, but he was getting a lot of pressure to weigh in against the bill.. Michael Arnold. The Parental Rights in Education bill has passed the Florida Legislature and awaits the signature of Gov. https://1792exchange.com/spotlightreports/. News of the postponement came as Disney CEO Bob Chapek conducted a town hall meeting for all employeesMonday. Then, the CEO found himself in a public spat with Floridas governor, who recognized an opportunity to score cheap political points off Disney. Pixar deal completed to show Disney employees it was a new day, says former CEO Bob Iger, Disney's Bob Iger: Leaving during Covid was unfortunate timing, Charley Gallay | Getty Images; Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images, App-based entertainment is replacing linear channels like traditional media, says fmr. Disney named Chapek the new CEO last month after Iger abruptly stepped down. 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 also played a key role in the commercialization of the studio's film business. This year, Mr. Chapek contended with one crisis after another, some of his own making. New Trailer Drops For Olaf Short Once Upon A Snowman, Wine Bar George at Disney Springs Offering Brunch Starting March 30th. Preference cookies enable a website to remember information that changes the way the website behaves or looks, like your preferred language or the region that you are in. He will be the seventh CEO in Disney's nearly 100-year history. At another point in the town hall, the companys HR chief addressed the Florida situation and also affirmed that the company would oppose an effort by Texas Gov. Disney Chairman and former CEO Bob Iger told CNBC he began thinking about stepping down as chief executive after feeling he was becoming too dismissive of other people's opinions. In a second memo to Disney workers, Chapek said Disney was suspending all political donations in Florida. Disney acquired the majority of Fox's assets in 2019. They left for other gigs. Bob Chapek's time as the CEO of Disney has been tumultuous, to say the least. Justin Danhof, the general counsel for the National Center for Public Policy Research, cited data showing ABC News is overwhelmingly negative toward President Trump and mentioned other scandals that have come out of the news division in recent memory when speaking to Chapek at the company's annual investor's meeting. Got a confidential news tip? 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 This choice cost her tens of millions of dollars, as her contract rewarded her with a split of box office revenue. Bob Chapek was initially silent on Floridas controversial bill barring discussions of gender identity in school classrooms. 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. Ron DeSantis. Political Campaign Contributions. Someone will be now, though. But as he reflected on his answers, he realized "times change," and said he was saying no too quickly. "Parks is the only business they have, before [streaming], that's direct to consumer.". New York CNN . In addition to addressing Disney directly, Madison also acknowledged that the issue is much larger than the single company. And Laurene and Steve and [Iger's wife] Willow [Bay] and I sat down at a dinner, and he toasted to the deal we had done some years earlier, convinced that it was the right thing to do for Disney and for Pixar. Who would have ever thought Walts dream would be so screwed up. When you face challenges and screw up, thats totally understandable. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Its even possible that nobody was seriously vetting at all. The pressure from the WOKE cancel culture was vicious. I havent seen anything like this before.. "I obviously have huge shoes to fill," Chapek told CNBC's Julia Boorstin on "Closing Bell" Tuesday. As you might imagine, some of them are LGBTQ+ or friends/family members of those who are. In truth, the only decision I believe Disney shouldnt have made is the removal of Magical Express. Chapek and Disneys past public silence on the controversial HB 1557/SB 1834 bill ignited an internal revolt among the companys LGBTQ employees and their allies, leading to the CEO apologizing Friday for not being a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights., You may have seen the news earlier this week that HRC is not going to take any funding from Disney until we see them take real action to defeat hateful legislation in Florida, the HRC interim leader said during her speech at the Saturday event. Ron DeSantis. As such, he should have known how Hollywood works. Madison addressed The Walt Disney Companys latest pledge during the LGBTQ advocacy groups annual Los Angeles dinner, held Saturday night at the JW Marriott LA Live Hotel. 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. Legal Statement. "That was an early sign that it was time. "Look, the world is changing dramatically, and it's important for the CEO of a company to address all of those changes rapidly," Iger said. The Shanghai and Hong Kong Disney parks have been shuttered until the outbreak can be contained and there are concerns from analysts that upcoming Disney film releases like "Mulan" could be disrupted because cinemas are currently closed in China. In March, Disney became entangled in a heated dispute with Gov. 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. Disney has given about $55 million to Republicans, Democrats and political committees in the state over the past 28 years, including about $5 million in 2020 and more than $2 million so far in 2022, state records show. He lied and supported the victimization of children. 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. He is the guilty party. The political mistake ties back to a previous choice. Republicans argued the bill protects parental rights, while Democrats and LGBTQ groups contend it was intentionally vague and could have a chilling effect on teachers and students. It should never have reached that point, though. In short, this debacle was totally avoidable. Employees were walking out in protest and ranting to the media. DeSantis, a rumored 2024 presidential hopeful, has not yet announced if he will run. 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. Disney CEO Bob Chapek is facing a crisis of confidence in his leadership that is fueling an atypical level of turmoil at the top of the worlds largest entertainment company.. Its just a bit more subtle. If you dont see your language, email sara@independentsentinel.com we will add it. Chief executive Bob Chapek doesnt think so. A growing number of participants in the retreat were expressing reluctance with pressing ahead given the climate at the company. People that do something very wrong then make excuses are evil. "Once we did the deal, in fact, in the months before he died he came to he and his wife, Laurene, came to our house. People are questioning DeSantiss comments. this site provides a list of businesses that are too woke and could cancel a client or a contract just for ones opinions on LGBTQ or race or something like that. WebCanada Disney CEO Bob Chapek Apologizes to LGBTQ Employees, Announces Pause for Political Donations in Florida variety This thread is archived New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast 29K 7 1.6K Related Topics Politics 1.6K comments Best AutoModerator 1 yr. ago As a reminder, this subreddit is for civil discussion. As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com I thought of this belief in combination with the recent political dust-up Disney experienced. 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. (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via / Getty Images). If Disney had merely maintained the status quo, a multi-coastal business operation, none of these headlines would dominate the media. REUTERS. Conversely, Chapek believes that his best approach is to avoid politics altogether, a legitimate impossibility for a company like Disney. Ever since Chapek spoke up, critics on the right have condemned Disney as being too "woke" and even talked of boycotting the resort. Chapek's promotion comes at a time when Disney is facing challenges from the global coronavirus outbreak. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. March 7th, 2022 Then-Disney CEO Bob Chapek comments further on the matter via an internal Disney memo. In "The Courage to Be Free," the governor describes a conversation with former CEO Bob Chapek about Disney's political activities. Squawk Box. "It's development of a relationship," Iger said. Everything else is justifiable. Chapek is a liar. Kathleen Kennedy Cites Impact Of Women, Artists Of Color And LGBTQ On Industry Amid Disney Dont Say Gay Backlash PGA Awards. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. A rep for ABC News toldFox News he would be reassigned after serving his suspension and an insider said he was hoodwinked into making the statements oncamera. Disney CEO Bob Chapek is pausing all of the companys political donations in Florida following the passage of the Dont Say Gay bill, a major escalation in his feud We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The Florida bill hasnt factored into investors views as of yet, though the companys stock has been languishing near a 52-week low. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. He knew how to grow the business while adjusting to the changing marketplace, which was intense." "I am sorry. But Im an ally you can count on, and I will be an outspoken champion for the protections, visibility and opportunity you deserve.. Beliefs like that hurt the brand. The other way that Disney got hit from the left and right happened last week. Iger acknowledged Chapek likely won't make the same decisions he would have made as future problems arise. Meet a Disney Cast Member Advocating for Accessible Technology, Where Was Grogu During The Sequel Trilogy? The streaming service launched in November. A roundtable of eight Disney employees who represented many aspects of the LGBTQ+ community also shared their perspectives during the town hall. 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 DeSantis backs down from his commitment to doing whats best for Floridas children and parents. I want to be crystal clear: I and the entire leadership team unequivocally stand in support of our LGBTQ+ employees, their families, and their communities. 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. October 26, 2021 at 5:36 FLORIDIOT: DeSantis Disney lackey thinks tap water makes you gay. Im with the President on this! Igerwrote. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. The head of Disney's parks, experiences and products is now its new CEO. Disney chief executive Bob Chapek speaks during a ceremony on Sept. 11, 2015, at Hong Kong Disneyland. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Occupy Democrats is a political organization and information website that provides a new counterbalance to the Republican Tea Party. Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Chapek apologized to employees at the company for the companys handling of Floridas so-called Dont Say Gay bill and said that it would Employees were walking out in protest and ranting to the media. Disney employees skew toward the pro-vaccine and anti-Dont Say Gay side, which is California, not Florida. 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. Chapek has also personally condemned the bill most vigorously, albeit a week too late. Im a devout believer that the least excusable mistakes stem from self-inflicted wounds and unforced errors. In his book, the Florida governor says the Disney sagas lesson is that in an environment of woke capital where large companies employ their influence to advance left-wing political agendas, old-guard corporate Republicanism is not up to the task at hand.. Analytics cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously. By Laurn Alexa | Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 12:02pm Many of the calls Management has altered some aspects of the Disney vacation experience as a tactic to overcome the unprecedented challenges of March 2020 through today. The bias is blatant.. I am sorry. Bob Iger, the former Disney CEO whose decades-long tenure at the company ended in December, tweeted his opposition to the legislation weeks ago. At this point, I felt confident he knew what he was doing because that was the right move. However, once the show started, well, it got awkward fast. Florida governor Ron DeSantis is calling out former Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Chapek. Questionable decision-making and actions by Disney post-covid may be why a petition to fire Bob Chapek has been brought to fruition. New York CNN . Feature Image: Marc Piasecki/Getty Images, Tags: Bob ChapekBob IgerChapekDisneyLake NonaThe Walt Disney Company. However, in the wake of the Dont Say Gay legislation, such a move feels like a betrayal of their values. Danhof, who has shown up to Disney shareholder meetings to ask fiery questions in the past, told Chapek that he had been imploring former CEO Bob Iger to address ABC News issues for years. Everyone struggles with adversity. Iger told Disney staffers in November that he didnt like that the Mouse House was embroiled in controversy and that he would work to quiet things down.. For the past 18 months, Disney has fallen into the latter category as leadership has accidentally caused as many screw-ups as it has fixed. Ron DeSantis speaks at a press conference at the Eau Gallie High School aviation hangar on March 22, 2021. Employees were walking out in protest and ranting to the media. Copyright 2021, Launchpad Digital Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Disney did not return requests for comment. Contribution Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites. It sounds about right. Knowing my grandchildren will never experienced true Disney magic without political agendas. Earlier in the week, Chapek said DeSantis had agreed to meet with him to ensure the bill wouldnt be weaponized against the LGBTQ community. November 21, 2022 by Mary Bob Chapek was born Robert Alan Chapek on August 21, 1960, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Send us a tip using our annonymous form. 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. Chapek is in the third-year of a three-year contract as CEO that expires in February. However, one of them provedregrettable. "Heres a suggestion for Disney CEO Bob Chapek: Get back to business, that is, excellence in storytelling, and stop wasting shareholders' money on political crusades that have nothing to do with Disneys business," Keating told Fox News Digital. 11. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Everyone was attacking Governor DeSantis with bald-faced lies, and he was the one who stood for what he believed. 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. Iger said he had to convince founders that he wouldn't disappoint them after completing an acquisition. We want to hear from you. 2016 Election Cycle. Instead, DeSantis blasted the company as woke and in bed with Chinese communists at an exclusive event publicized on Fox News. or redistributed. Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. I think my role is not to take the strategic pillars he's so well established over the last 15 years and continue to work on those and implement those in the marketplace, most importantly our direct-to-consumer initiatives, but at the same time look around the corner for what disruption might be going on in the marketplace that would necessitate a fresh look at those things.". Alas, Chapek fell too deeply in love with the idea of increasing Disney+ subscriber numbers. It sounds about right. In addition to pledging to enlist an outside adviser to guide the companys efforts, Chapek also is creating a companywide task force led by studios SVP Global Communications Paul Roeder and Disney Parks marketing executive Lisa Becket. WATCH: Disney's Bob Iger turns CEO job to Chapek. Critics have depicted the bill as hurtful to LGBTQ inclusiveness and dubbed it the "Don't Say Gay" bill. The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. 02:12. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter, Interim president Joni Madison confirmed she and Bob Chapek "had a very productive conversation about the need for Disney to put real muscle into stopping what's happening to their employees and to their fans.".
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