Topline
Disney will pause its political donations in Florida after coming under fire for not opposing legislation critics dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill and for past donations to the bills’ sponsors, CEO Bob Chapek told employees in a letter Friday, apologizing for Disney’s response to the bill following widespread backlash from those both inside and outside the company.
Anasofia Pelaez and Kimberly Blandon (L-R) protest in front of Florida State Senator Ileana Garcia's ... [+]
Key Facts
In a letter addressed to Disney employees “but especially our LGBTQ+ community,” Chapek said he was “sorry” for the company’s response to the legislation, and didn’t realize “how painful our silence was” to employees.
Chapek said the company was “immediately” pausing its political donations in Florida pending a review of its donations to “ensure our advocacy better reflects our values.”
Disney will also increase its donations to advocacy groups “to combat similar legislation in other states,” Chapek said, after the Human Rights Campaign said Wednesday it would not accept donations from Disney until the company took “meaningful action” against the bill.
The letter marked the third recent statement Chapek has made about the legislation in recent days: the CEO first released a statement on Monday that said corporate statements “do very little to change outcomes or minds” and that the company instead preferred to focus on showcasing LGBTQ stories through its entertainment content.
Chapek then apologized for that statement at a shareholder meeting on Wednesday and said he opposed the bill and would meet with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in an effort to stop the governor from signing it.
Crucial Quote
“It is clear that this is not just an issue about a bill in Florida, but instead yet another challenge to basic human rights,” Chapek wrote to employees. “You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down.”
Surprising Fact
Disney has donated to every lawmaker sponsoring the Florida bill, the Orlando Sentinel reports, and the website Popular Information reports the company has donated $249,126 over the past two years to lawmakers who voted for the legislation. (The company also donates to Democratic politicians.)
Key Background
Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act—referred to by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill—would restrict discussions in schools about sexual orientation and gender identity, prohibiting the subjects entirely up until the third grade and restricting any conversations that aren’t “age appropriate or developmentally appropriate” for older students. The bill passed the Florida legislature on Tuesday and now goes to DeSantis, who is widely expected to sign it into law. Disney has a significant economic presence in Florida—Walt Disney World is the largest single-site employer in the country—and is moving thousands of additional jobs to the state from California. Its influence has been felt in past bills, such as a social media law that contains a specific carve-out for companies with theme parks so that Disney wouldn’t be affected. The Hollywood Reporter reported in early March that Chapek, who became CEO in 2020, is more politically conservative and less willing to take stands on issues than his predecessor Bob Iger, who spoke out against a number of divisive policies when he led the company. Sources cited by the Reporter said Chapek has also been unwilling to have Disney comment on political issues like voting rights, suggesting that as the reason why the new CEO had been reluctant to take a stand against the Florida bill.
Further Reading
Disney Opposes Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill, CEO Says, Following Outcry Over Its Silence (Forbes)
Disney TV Animation, Distribution Staffers Criticize CEO’s Response to “Don’t Say Gay” Bill in Letters (Hollywood Reporter)
Disney Censors Same-Sex Affection in Pixar Films, According to Letter From Employees (Variety)
Disney employees ‘hurt’ and ‘angry’ over CEO’s response to Florida LGBTQ billDisney employees ‘hurt’ and ‘angry’ over CEO’s response to Florida LGBTQ bill (Los Angeles Times)
