Disney CEO Bob Iger has strongly rejected Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ campaign rhetoric against the company, calling the attacks “preposterous and inaccurate.” In an exclusive interview with CNBC, Iger responded to DeSantis’ claims that Disney is “sexualizing children,” a refrain the Republican presidential candidate has been using on the campaign trail.
Iger, who is the CEO of one of Florida’s largest employers, also defended Disney’s right to speak out against a controversial state bill last year that limited classroom discussion of LGBTQ issues, known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. This move by then-CEO Bob Chapek, who succeeded Iger in 2020 and resigned in 2022 when Iger returned to the helm, sparked a bitter feud with Governor DeSantis and his Republican allies.
Following Disney’s criticism, Florida officials targeted the special tax district that had allowed Walt Disney World to essentially self-govern its Florida operations for decades. Disney has filed a lawsuit, alleging that DeSantis has engaged in political retribution against the company.
“We are concerned that he has decided to retaliate against the company for a position the company took on pending legislation in that state,” Iger said. “And frankly, the company was within its right, even though I’m not sure it was handled very well, it was within its right to speak up on an issue [of the] constitutionally protected right of free speech. To retaliate against the company in a way that would be harmful to the business was not something that we could sit back and tolerate.”
Despite the ongoing legal battle, DeSantis has continued to attack Disney in the court of public opinion. As he campaigns for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, DeSantis has repeatedly accused Disney of advocating for the sexualization of children due to its opposition to the classroom bill. A pro-DeSantis super PAC even released an ad claiming that Disney films promoted “secret sexual content.”
Iger firmly rejected these claims, stating, “The last thing that I want for the company is for the company to be drawn into any culture wars. We are a preeminent entertainer in the world, and we’re proud of our track record there. The notion that Disney is in any way sexualizing children, quite frankly, is preposterous and inaccurate.”
Iger also expressed his concern over a recent demonstration by neo-Nazis near Disney World following former President Donald Trump’s federal indictment. He described it as “horrifying” and emphasized the dangers of encouraging intolerance and hate.
A spokesperson for DeSantis’ campaign did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
How did Governor DeSantis and his Republican supporters react to Disney’s critique and what action did Florida officials take in response
Disney CEO Bob Iger has firmly rejected Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ accusations against the company, labeling them as “ridiculous and false.” In an exclusive interview with CNBC, Iger responded to DeSantis’ claims of Disney “sexualizing children,” a narrative that the Republican presidential candidate has been promoting during his campaign.
Iger, who holds the position of CEO in one of Florida’s largest employers, also defended Disney’s right to express their concerns regarding a contentious state bill last year that restricted conversations about LGBTQ issues in classrooms, popularly known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. This decision, made by then-CEO Bob Chapek, who took over from Iger in 2020 and subsequently resigned in 2022 when Iger resumed his role, ignited a heated dispute with Governor DeSantis and his Republican supporters.
In response to Disney’s critique, Florida officials targeted the special tax district that had previously allowed the Walt Disney Company to receive significant financial benefits from the state.
Bob Iger’s response to Ron DeSantis’ attacks is spot on. It is disappointing to see such preposterous and inaccurate statements being made. Good on Iger for standing up for the truth.