Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek privately complained to Florida Gov. New York CNN . 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. Disney CEO Bob Chapek downplayed criticism of ABC News. Unfortunately, theresnothing inclusive about the Dont Say Gay bill. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. This choice cost her tens of millions of dollars, as her contract rewarded her with a split of box office revenue. Chief executive Bob Chapek doesnt think so. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Disney this week said it will work to repeal the legislation in Florida because it's dedicated to standing up for the rights and safety of the LGBTQ+ community. 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. Florida Gov. It didnt happen long ago, so we should all remember how they behaved. Disney hasnt brought back all its union-based performers yet, although it has taken recent steps to do so. Market data provided byFactset. The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. Still, if the economy ever suddenly suffered a setback, this unforced error would magnify in scope. They allegedly alsomade the workplace environment hostile. 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. This is not just about Bob Chapek and Disney, she told the audience. Shares of the company fell less than 2% in extending trading Tuesday. 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. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Prior to working at the parks, Chapek led Disney's home entertainment business starting in 2009 and led the organization to record-setting performances. Greg Abbott on a different front. Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. Here are Disney's major milestones under Bob Iger's leadership. Chapeks ill-considered ruling last year would force those people to move to a place where they already feel unwelcome. And, we are committed to creating a more inclusive company and world, Chapek wrote in a memo to staff in March 2022. He said the company was increasing support for advocacy "Bob [Chapek] is going to address them probably differently perhaps than I may have. It closed todays trading at $138.62, down 1%. Chapek added, there is so much more work to be done and said he would continue to engage with the LGBTQ community in the coming weeks. "It's development of a relationship," Iger said. Alas, Chapek fell too deeply in love with the idea of increasing Disney+ subscriber numbers. 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Market data provided by Factset. If signed by DeSantis, the bill would prohibit discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in schools up to the third grade and limits it to age-appropriate students in higher grades. The original town hall event was announced on March 2, and then on Friday was moved to today so people could attend Tuesdays walkout if they so chose. Disney CEO Bob Chapek has had private phone calls this year with House Republican leaders including House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La. Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. Employees were walking out in protest and ranting to the media. Chapek has also personally condemned the bill most vigorously, albeit a week too late. To my fellow colleagues, but especially our LGBTQ+ community, thank you to all who have reached out to me sharing your pain, frustration and sadness over the companys response to the Florida Dont Say Gay bill, Chapek said in his letter. 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.". The company has also given more than $100,000 to the Friends of Ron DeSantis PAC since 2019. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) of The Walt Disney Company from 2020 to 2022. In the interim, these shows have filled the void. The event concluded with a fireside chat from Nadine Smith of Equality Florida and Latondra Newton, Disneys Chief Diversity Officer. 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.. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. Back in 2018, Danhof confronted then-CEO Iger about ABC News Joy Behar, who was under fire at the time for comments that mocked Vice President Pences Christian faith. Occupy Democrats is a political organization and information website that provides a new counterbalance to the Republican Tea Party. "I would consider myself a socialist,like I think there should be national health insurance," he said. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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 TV. Squawk Box. When Chapek took the job as head of Disney, critics lamented his lack of experience with the Hollywood studio system. HERITAGE ACTION CALLS OUT DISNEY: 'IT REALLY IS A WOKE WORLD AFTER ALL', "We all have the right to have our voices heard on issues, but not on the shareholders dime.". 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. DeSantis signed the bill into law last March 28, which prompted Disney to publicly rip the new law and stand with Disneys LGBTQ employees and advocates in Florida. Got a confidential news tip? FLORIDIOT: DeSantis Disney lackey thinks tap water makes you gay. Chapek absolutely should have spoken with her first. Bob Iger, the former Disney CEO whose decades-long tenure at the company ended in December, tweeted his opposition to the legislation weeks ago. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. This year, Mr. Chapek contended with one crisis after another, some of his own making. It hasnt gone away. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. "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. We want to hear from you. 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. Employees were walking out in protest and ranting to the media. ABC NEWS' AMY ROBACH CAUGHT ON HOT MIC SAYING NETWORK SPIKED HER EPSTEIN BOMBSHELL, Danhof asked Chapek directly, What steps can you take to return objectivity to ABC and when can we expect to see balanced coverage return?. Look no further! Chapek has a career as an American media executive. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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.. Wright was recently disciplined by higher-ups at ABC News. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. He also played a key role in the commercialization of the studio's film business. We want to hear from you! Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. "Bob's legacy in the company is just profound. Chapek was replaced by longtime CEO Bob Iger in late 2022. It should never have reached that point, though. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. 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 A roundtable of eight Disney employees who represented many aspects of the LGBTQ+ community also shared their perspectives during the town hall. During the pandemic, Disney has ramped up its usage of high school performers at theme parks, especially Magic Kingdom. Change isn't necessarily bad.". All Rights Reserved. Colleagues perceive former CEO Bob Iger as a highly political person with an acute mind for such situations. All Disney employees were invited to attend the town hall this morning, which Deadline was told was part of an ongoing conversation series that began in 2020. Everything else is justifiable. 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. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. 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. Then, Chapek prioritized Disney+ as the core business model for the entire company. "You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down," Chapek said in a statement on March. All Rights Reserved. Beliefs like that hurt the brand. REUTERS. The other way that Disney got hit from the left and right happened last week. During the town hall, Chapek repeated his expression of regret about the companys decision not to take a public stance against the bill, given the large number of its employees it affected. Human Rights Campaign interim president Joni Madison says the LGBTQ organization has already been in touch with Bob Chapek after the Disney CEO committed to pausing all political donations in Florida following internal backlash over its initial silence around the Dont Say Gay bill. WebOn Monday, Chapek sent a Morrell-approved company-wide email claiming that he preferred to speak through Disney content and behind-the-scenes machinations. DeSantis wrotethat Chapek and Disney ultimately caved to leftist media and activist pressure and pressed the false narrative against the bill.. That has become increasingly important as streaming video slowly replaces linear pay TV and movie theaters as the dominant form of entertainment distribution. Wright was disciplined after higher-ups at ABC News reviewedfootagein whichWright described himself as a "socialist" and criticized the network for the way in which it chooses to present the news. In addition to addressing Disney directly, Madison also acknowledged that the issue is much larger than the single company. 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. After two tumultuous years, on November 20, Iger stepped back into the spotlight and Chapek was out. Bob Chapek was tapped on Tuesday to succeedlong-time Disney CEO Bob Iger. Got a confidential news tip? Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites. Robert ChapekPolitical Campaign Contributions2016 Election Cycle. "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. This priority caused him to lose sight of the challenges in working with Hollywood talents. Periodically, we must employ comment moderation due to an influx of spammers. The bias is blatant.. However, one of them provedregrettable. I feel terrible about it. Would love your thoughts, please comment. In a second memo to Disney workers, Chapek said Disney was suspending all political donations in Florida. "Bob is probably the best qualified person in the company to take this job," Michael Nathanson, senior research analyst at MoffettNathanson, said on CNBC's "Closing Bell" Tuesday. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Meet a Disney Cast Member Advocating for Accessible Technology, Where Was Grogu During The Sequel Trilogy? The political mistake ties back to a previous choice. ", Nathanson said the selection of Chapek was not a surprise and a "win-win for the company.". Employees were walking out in protest and ranting to the media. 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.. or redistributed. 2023 CNBC LLC. Disney allowed the drill team to perform based on an audition tape it had sent. Someone will be now, though. "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. And today we are opposing all political donations in the state of Florida pending this review.. 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. Ron DeSantis speaks at a press conference at the Eau Gallie High School aviation hangar on March 22, 2021. He states his positions situationally for his personal profit. pic.twitter.com/eJnZMpKIXT. DeSantis retaliated by signaling publicly that he would be willing to re-evaluate Disneys special tax district, called Reedy Creek, and favorable corporate agreements due to its insistence on woke political activism. Its only temporary and has nothing to do with the content of the comments. All Rights Reserved. Its going to be a recurring theme here. The stockholder, speaking during the Q&A portion of Disneys annual shareholder meeting, noted that co-stars Pedro Pascal and Gina Carano both controversially referenced Nazi Germany in social media comments but only she was removed. News of the postponement came as Disney CEO Bob Chapek conducted a town hall meeting for all employeesMonday. As such, he should have known how Hollywood works. watch now. Political Party Stances; 51% : Florida Gov. Thanks to a reportedly massive payment Disney sent to Johansson, the two parties have since made up. I feel that the truth suffers, the voters are poorly informed, and people also have the opportunity to tune into whatever they want to hear, Wright said in the video, which also featured an ABCNews producer. The task force will develop strategy and action plans to engage with LGBTQ+ employees, community partners and content creators. Source: ABC News anchor Amy Robach was recorded on a hot mic claiming the network spiked a story exposing Jeffrey Epstein three years ago. Chapek's promotion comes at a time when Disney is facing challenges from the global coronavirus outbreak. Carano last month raised the issue of a double standard in an interview with conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, noting that Pascal was not fired for a 2018 tweet comparing undocumented children in cages in the U.S. to Jews in concentration camps. Iger also discussed his strategy around buying animation studio Pixar, comic book and action hero company Marvel Entertainment, and Lucasfilm, home of Star Wars. 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. Iger, 70, is leaving Disney after running the company from 2005 to 2020. ", Nothing in the Florida legislation itself mentions the word gay. News Analysis. While Chapek was positive and largely avoided Danhofs criticism, his comment that Wrights objectivity is questionable coincides with the networks decision to suspend the veteran reporter. Everyone was attacking Governor DeSantis with bald-faced lies, and he was the one who stood for what he believed. Conversely, Chapek believes that his best approach is to avoid politics altogether, a legitimate impossibility for a company like Disney. We want to hear from you. "That was an early sign that it was time. News Analysis. He will be the seventh CEO in Disney's nearly 100-year history. Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek privately complained to Florida Gov. Ron] Desantis desk vetoed. It states that "classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.". 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. 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.. In March, Disney became entangled in a heated dispute with Gov. REUTERS. Most of the decisions appear understandable in isolation. Disney CEO Bob Iger, Here are Disney's major milestones under Bob Iger's leadership, Iger had repeatedly pushed off his retirement. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. If you dont see your language, email sara@independentsentinel.com we will add it. Disney employees skew toward the pro-vaccine and anti-Dont Say Gay side, which is California, not Florida. Bob Iger, the former Disney CEO whose decades-long tenure at the company ended in December, tweeted his opposition to the legislation weeks ago. In lieu of the management retreat, the plan is for the leadership of the media company to go on a listening tour with employees, according to a person familiar with the strategy. Iger will assume the role of executive chairman. He got played here. Initially, complaints arose about the fact that Disney wasnt letting the drill team wear their headdresses. Many of them chose to retire or find other jobs rather than move to Florida. He stepped down last year as CEO, succeeded by Bob Chapek, but has stayed on as chairman through the coronavirus pandemic. He said he was overwhelmed by professionalism and objectivity of the news division but admitted Wright said some things on the Project Veritas video to make the company question his objectivity. 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. "Parks is the only business they have, before [streaming], that's direct to consumer.". Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. They left for other gigs. Robert Chapek. In addition to what all Americans witness on a daily basis, Project Veritas has recently exposed numerous examples of ABC journalists admitting that the network bosses repeatedly spike positive stories on President Trump, Danhof said. John Oliver Calls Bob Chapeks Explanation For Disney Donations To Dont Say Gay Politicians Actively Insulting. October 26, 2021 at 5:36 Earlier in the week, Chapek said DeSantis had agreed to meet with him to ensure the bill wouldnt be weaponized against the LGBTQ community. Chapek has been overseeing the company's parks, experiences and products division since those divisions were combined in 2018. This story has been shared 102,949 times. Disney has been able to build a robust library of kids movies while using the IP to churn out spinoffs and sequels, adding new content to its flagship streaming service, Disney+, to keep people paying month after month.
