Chapek wrapped up the session and thanked all of the participants. HB 1557/SB 1834, dubbed the Dont Say Gay bill,would seek to ban classroom discussion on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade and has been labeled a government censorship bill by the ACLU of Florida. All Rights Reserved. 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.. 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. Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek last year complained to Florida Gov. Here are CEO Bob Chapeks worst five mistakes thus far. ABC Newsrecently suspended veteran Washington correspondent David Wright for remarks he made that were captured on video byProject Veritas. Powered and implemented byFactSet Digital Solutions. Occupy Democrats is a political organization and information website that provides a new counterbalance to the Republican Tea Party. Chapek has a career as an American media executive. Ron] Desantis desk vetoed. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. When everything is fine, but you unintentionally create your own drama, thats a sign that youre your own worst enemy. Instead, DeSantis blasted the company as woke and in bed with Chinese communists at an exclusive event publicized on Fox News. We are hard at work creating a new framework for our political giving that will ensure our advocacy better reflects our values. Bob Chapek at the Pinocchio premiere in December 2022. Ron DeSantis. That has become increasingly important as streaming video slowly replaces linear pay TV and movie theaters as the dominant form of entertainment distribution. Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek privately complained to Florida Gov. 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 Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. We have a multi-language translator on the top left. Interested in booking a Disney Vacation? In "The Courage to Be Free," the governor describes a conversation with former CEO Bob Chapek about Disney's political activities. Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient. 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.. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. Prior to 2016, Bob Igers political party was Democratic Independent (2016present). 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. The bias is blatant. I consent to the use of following cookies: Necessary cookies help make a website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Chapek is almost childlike by comparison. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) of The Walt Disney Company from 2020 to 2022. Disney allowed the drill team to perform based on an audition tape it had sent. Kathleen Kennedy Cites Impact Of Women, Artists Of Color And LGBTQ On Industry Amid Disney Dont Say Gay Backlash PGA Awards. He will be the seventh CEO in Disney's nearly 100-year history. After two tumultuous years, on November 20, Iger stepped back into the spotlight and Chapek was out. Its gut-check time for every CEO and company [in] America. 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. ", Nathanson said the selection of Chapek was not a surprise and a "win-win for the company.". Its bad for business and even worse for the Disney brand. Read More. 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. 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. Political Party Stances; 51% : Florida Gov. Florida Gov. ), The HRC president went on to say that companies need to deliver more than inclusive employment policies and a clever Pride campaign and that corporate values should be guiding principles in how a company shows up for the marginalized, instead of being marketing materials., I promise you, states lucrative tax laws wont matter much to your employees and consumers who are being criminalized for supporting their kids and being pushed back in the closet by the legal system, she said. The pressure from the WOKE cancel culture was vicious. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Even so, Disney has strengthened the belief that its park price increases are out of control. So, Disney had to do many of these things, and I would agree with you. November 21, 2022 by Mary Bob Chapek was born Robert Alan Chapek on August 21, 1960, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. In March, Disney became entangled in a heated dispute with Gov. Everyone knew that was a lie. "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. 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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. But, thus far, theyve had no impact on the bottom line, as Disney just claimed its second-best park performance ever for a fiscal quarter. 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. As such, he should have known how Hollywood works. We cant say if he told DeSantis, but why wouldnt he tell him? Shares of the company fell less than 2% in extending trading Tuesday. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. 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. 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. ABC News declined to comment when reached by Fox News. 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. This story has been shared 102,949 times. A Division of NBCUniversal. Michael Arnold. Disney CEO Denies Political Leanings Following Gina Carano Firing During annual shareholder call, CEO Bob Chapek maintains the media giant isnt left leaning or right leaning, but instead stands for the universal values of respect, decency, integrity, and inclusion. 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. 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. 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. Amid the melee, DeSantis issued a warning over Disney getting involved in the legislation. REUTERS. Iger and the Disney board's decision to give Chapek the job surprised Wall Street and Disney executives, especially after Iger had repeatedly pushed off his retirement to stay as Disney's CEO. It should never have reached that point, though. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. 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.. 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. All rights reserved. Iger said he's felt himself become increasingly dismissive of other people's ideas, a sign he should let someone else lead Disney. Meet a Disney Cast Member Advocating for Accessible Technology, Where Was Grogu During The Sequel Trilogy? 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. Chapek's promotion comes at a time when Disney is facing challenges from the global coronavirus outbreak. Ron DeSantis over the pressure he was facing to weigh in against Floridas Parental "That was an early sign that it was time. Unfortunately, theresnothing inclusive about the Dont Say Gay bill. Disney named Chapek the new CEO last month after Iger abruptly stepped down. "Bob [Chapek] is going to address them probably differently perhaps than I may have. It sounds about right. 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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.". FLORIDIOT: DeSantis Disney lackey thinks tap water makes you gay. 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. In that role, he reorganized the business to cut costs and oversaw a number of popular toy crazes from franchises like "Frozen.". Mutual Fund and ETF data provided byRefinitiv Lipper. We've received your submission. Initially, complaints arose about the fact that Disney wasnt letting the drill team wear their headdresses. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Iger sat down for an exclusive interview with CNBC's David Faber. And so, its like theres no upside, or our bosses dont see an upside in doing the job were supposed to do, which is to speak truth to power and hold people accountable.. Ron DeSantis, who accused the company of being woke a day earlier for opposing the bill. Disney did not return requests for comment. 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. But DeSantis pushed on, signing a law to strip Disney World of its Reedy Creek control on Monday. This choice cost her tens of millions of dollars, as her contract rewarded her with a split of box office revenue. 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. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. Many of the calls The email came two days after the companys annual shareholder meeting, during which Chapek explained that the company had long opposed the Florida bill but opted to work behind the scenes rather than make a public statement. 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. "I became a little bit more dismissive of other people's opinions than I should have been," said Iger. In November 2022, longtime Disney CEO Bob Iger announced he was replacing Chapek after two years away from the company. Additionally, the outbreak continues to threaten the global economy and worldwide travel. The company has also given more than $100,000 to the Friends of Ron DeSantis PAC since 2019. Bob Chapek was initially silent on Floridas controversial bill barring discussions of gender identity in school classrooms. If you dont see your language, email sara@independentsentinel.com we will add it. WebBob Chapek. There is no question that Chapek was under tremendous pressure. "I would consider myself a socialist,like I think there should be national health insurance," he said. Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy. 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. Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. However, once the show started, well, it got awkward fast. As many of its LGBTQ+ employees get set for a full-day walkout Tuesday, Disney has decided to postpone a management retreat set for next week as it continues efforts to calm internal waters. And, we are committed to creating a more inclusive company and world, Chapek wrote in a memo to staff in March 2022. The Parental Rights in Education bill has passed the Florida Legislature and awaits the signature of Gov. "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. Change isn't necessarily bad.". 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. 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All Rights Reserved. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. 02:12. Got a confidential news tip? Chapek cared too much about his needs and not enough about those of others. As a new CEO, he was easily victimized. 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 However, its not what Chapek said at the time. He will be the seventh CEO in Disney's nearly 100-year history. The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. Here are Disney's major milestones under Bob Iger's leadership. 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. It sounds about right. DeSantis published the conversation with Chapek in his memoir, The Courage to be Free: Floridas Blueprint for American Revival, shared with Fox News Digital. Feature Image: Marc Piasecki/Getty Images, Tags: Bob ChapekBob IgerChapekDisneyLake NonaThe Walt Disney Company. Im with the President on this! Igerwrote. Period. Legal Statement. 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. You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down. John Oliver Calls Bob Chapeks Explanation For Disney Donations To Dont Say Gay Politicians Actively Insulting. He stepped down last year as CEO, succeeded by Bob Chapek, but has stayed on as chairman through the coronavirus pandemic. Chapek has been overseeing the company's parks, experiences and products division since those divisions were combined in 2018. Chapek is in the third-year of a three-year contract as CEO that expires in February. 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. Ron DeSantis backs down from his commitment to doing whats best for Floridas children and parents. "Over time, I started listening less and maybe with a little less tolerance of other people's opinions, maybe because of getting a little bit more overconfident in my own, which is sometimes what happens when you get built up," Iger told CNBC's David Faber in an exclusive interview. I truly believe we are an infinitely better and stronger company because of our LGBTQ+ community, he wrote. Knowing my grandchildren will never experienced true Disney magic without political agendas. 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. As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Chapeks initial responses to the bill were tepid at best, as he wanted to maintain solid relationships with the legislators. 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? (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via / Getty Images). Chapek has also personally condemned the bill most vigorously, albeit a week too late. We need Disneys partnership in getting the bills heading to [Gov. Apparently, a Texas high school doesnt know what year it is and still performs a routine featuring Indianettes.. Someone will be now, though. The tech companies and entertainment companies here who have an influential presence across the country and around the world have an important role to play in fighting state-sanctioned discrimination wherever it exists., Madison said the country is at a tipping point, similar to the 2016 HB2 anti-trans bathroom legislation, or the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, in North Carolina and pointed to how companies that refused to expand business in the state, they pulled out of conferences, they canceled events impacted the fate of that bill. You can look at the comments section for any Disney discussion, and its an inevitable statement from some. Analytics cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously. WATCH LIVE WATCH IN THE APP. As you might imagine, some of them are LGBTQ+ or friends/family members of those who are. Iger acknowledged Chapek likely won't make the same decisions he would have made as future problems arise. WATCH: Disney's Bob Iger turns CEO job to Chapek. He also played a key role in the commercialization of the studio's film business. Timing 'surprising' says senior analyst on Bob Iger stepping down. Most of the decisions appear understandable in isolation. Ousted Disney chief executive Bob Chapek is set to receive a hefty paycheck following his exit. The bias is blatant.. Reporters uncovered the fact that Disney had donated to the campaigns of several sponsors of the bill. Disney chief executive Bob Chapek speaks during a ceremony on Sept. 11, 2015, at Hong Kong Disneyland. Employees were walking out in protest and ranting to the media. The company did this after adding a Fifth Key last year, Inclusion. This story has been shared 151,093 times. Chapek learned a harsh lesson that potential political allies behind closed doors are all too happy to attack Disney in the media for personal gain. All Rights Reserved. Ron DeSantis. 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. Everyone struggles with adversity. In that scenario, someone less experienced with vetting is in charge. Then, it required many Golden State employees to switch coasts. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. 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. Disney CEO Bob Chapek now claims he wants the company to be everything for everyone after he caved to the woke mob and fought the anti-grooming law in Florida. He lied and supported the victimization of children. 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. Periodically, we must employ comment moderation due to an influx of spammers.