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.. 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. 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. Squawk Box. Chapek didnt speak to the Carano incident directly but said Disney stands for values that are universal: respect, decency, integrity and inclusion and we seek to have the content that we make reflective of the rich diversity of the world we live in. What Is Bob Chapek Political Party? In November 2022, longtime Disney CEO Bob Iger announced he was replacing Chapek after two years away from the company. Iger, 69, will remain with the company through 2021 to handle Disney's content initiatives such as Disney+, with the expectation that Chapek will eventually take control of all roles. 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. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. 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 document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. News Analysis. Alas, Chapek fell too deeply in love with the idea of increasing Disney+ subscriber numbers. Chapek is far less publicly political than his predecessor, who once considered a run for the Democratic nomination for president. Bob Chapek was tapped on Tuesday to succeed long-time Disney CEO Bob Iger. Additionally, the outbreak continues to threaten the global economy and worldwide travel. In it, the Disney leader said the company had not released a public statement condemning the bill, which was passed by the state legislation Tuesday and has been sent to DeSantis desk to be signed, because they are often weaponized by one side or the other to further divide and inflame., Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. Periodically, we must employ comment moderation due to an influx of spammers. He states his positions situationally for his personal profit. By Laurn Alexa | Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 12:02pm Critics have cited specific concerns over sections of the bill, including the vague wording about banning classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity that isnt age appropriate that goes beyond the language about kindergarten through third grade. Disney CEO Bob Chapek gets close to GOP lawmakers ahead of The political mistake ties back to a previous choice. "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.". All Rights Reserved. Political Party Stances; 51% : Florida Gov. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. He knew how to grow the business while adjusting to the changing marketplace, which was intense." ", Nathanson said the selection of Chapek was not a surprise and a "win-win for the company.". 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. During the pandemic, Disney has ramped up its usage of high school performers at theme parks, especially Magic Kingdom. I thought of this belief in combination with the recent political dust-up Disney experienced. News of the postponement came as Disney CEO Bob Chapek conducted a town hall meeting for all employeesMonday. Chapek has not commented on the DeSantis report. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Bob Chapek was tapped on Tuesday to succeed long-time Disney CEO Bob Iger. The Wrap has reported that Imagineers have campaigned for Disney to reconsider. Many of them chose to retire or find other jobs rather than move to Florida. 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. Disney acquired the majority of Fox's assets in 2019. FLORIDIOT: DeSantis Disney lackey thinks tap water makes you gay. 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. He was the 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. 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. DeSantis signed the legislation into law this week that bars instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. The task force will develop strategy and action plans to engage with LGBTQ+ employees, community partners and content creators. 02:12. (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via / Getty Images). Employees were walking out in protest and ranting to the media. According to Fox News, in his book, The Courage to Be Free: Floridas Blueprint for American Revival,which will be released Tuesday, DeSantis recounts a private conversation he had last year with Chapek, who had stayed silent on the bill. Then, Chapek prioritized Disney+ as the core business model for the entire company. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Everyone was attacking Governor DeSantis with bald-faced lies, and he was the one who stood for what he believed. Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. We've received your submission. 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. Beliefs like that hurt the brand. Disney CEO Told DeSantis He Didnt Want to Do It. It sounds about right. I am sorry. "Parks is a business where they use data to drive pricing and engagement," Nathanson said. Earlier this month, Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke out on the pro-Trump mob attack on the US Capitol. 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. In totality, its one problematic mistake, though. It hasnt gone away. FAQ - New Privacy Policy, New York Posts Karol Markowicz discusses how Disney is pushing back against Floridas parental rights bill and how she is quitting the park on Fox Business Tonight.. What I suspect is that the people who formerly approved such shows arent with the company now. For all other types of cookies we need your permission. "If I werent a shareholder, Id find it amusing. REUTERS. Send us a tip using our annonymous form. Bob Chapek (C) Chairman of Parks, Experiences, and Products for the Walt Disney Company speaks during the dedication ceremony for the "Rise of the Resistance" attraction opening at Galaxy's Edge at Disneys Hollywood Studios on December 04, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. WebBob Chapek. The event concluded with a fireside chat from Nadine Smith of Equality Florida and Latondra Newton, Disneys Chief Diversity Officer. He also played a key role in the commercialization of the studio's film business. Prior to 2016, Bob Igers political party was Democratic Independent (2016present). 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. Earlier in the week, Chapek said DeSantis had agreed to meet with him to ensure the bill wouldnt be weaponized against the LGBTQ community. Conversely, Chapek believes that his best approach is to avoid politics altogether, a legitimate impossibility for a company like Disney. "Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that. All Rights Reserved. The head of Disney's parks, experiences and products is now its new CEO. Its only temporary and has nothing to do with the content of the comments. 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 Chapek is almost childlike by comparison. 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. 02:35. 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. Walt Disney CEO Bob Chapek is pausing all of the companys political donations in Florida after the passage of the dont say gay bill and apologized to employees for his silence during the months-long debate on the measure. (Getty Images. 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. 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. He agreed that the company should stand up more for the LGBTQ+ community in pursuit of more meaningful and lasting change. 2016 www.independentsentinel.com. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Read More. Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek last year complained to Florida Gov. A Division of NBCUniversal. 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.. It fit into the larger corporate campaign known as Reimagine Tomorrow, which aims to emphasize Disneys commitment to diversity and inclusion. CEO Bob Chapek is less willing than Bob Iger to take public political stands including LGBTQ (The PAC splits its gifts equally between the parties.) Ever since Chapek spoke up, critics on the right have condemned Disney as being too "woke" and even talked of boycotting the resort. Many of the workers who have agreed to go to Florida remain in California for the time being. Iger will assume the role of executive chairman. Bob Chapek was born Robert Alan Chapek on August 21, 1960, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. ABC News declined to comment when reached by Fox News. Starting immediately, we are increasing our support for advocacy groups to combat similar legislation in other states, Chapek wrote, possibly referring to a similar measure proposed in Georgia and bills targeting transgender children in Texas and Idaho. But DeSantis pushed on, signing a law to strip Disney World of its Reedy Creek control on Monday. 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. Many speculated about Bob Igers future plans after his shocking decision to resign as CEO of The Walt Disney Company in February, including whether he intended to run for president. The exec is continuing to try to put the company on more stable footing after its response to Floridas Dont Say Gay bill met with fierce backlash internally and in influential pockets of the talent community. 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. Most of the decisions appear understandable in isolation. He lied and supported the victimization of children. I feel terrible about it. That argument is correct, independent of where you may fall on the political spectrum. 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? Not coincidentally, Chapeks naivet has already caused Disney to take shots from the left AND right on two different matters. Park officials reeeeeaaally dont want headlines with racist chant in them. Disneys decision to fold under the pressure of the lying-Left is disappointing.. Disney allowed the drill team to perform based on an audition tape it had sent. The more combustible of those situations unfolded over House Bill 1557, the so-called Dont Say legislation. Home; Video; Trump Investigations; Right Wing Extremism; Opinion; Impeachment; Corruption; Foreign Policy; "Right now, the course that Bob has laid is one that we fully intend to follow and I think will pay dividends for our shareholders for years to come," he said. "I obviously have huge shoes to fill," Chapek told CNBC's Julia Boorstin on "Closing Bell" Tuesday. Kathleen Kennedy Cites Impact Of Women, Artists Of Color And LGBTQ On Industry Amid Disney Dont Say Gay Backlash PGA Awards. I havent seen anything like this before.. 2023 CNBC LLC. Copyright 2021, Launchpad Digital Network, LLC. The kind of people who were the jokes on Portlandia are now in charge of producing childrens entertainment in America https://t.co/auyihRcdnO, SCOOP: Disney diversity and inclusion manager Vivian Ware says the company has eliminated all mentions of ladies, gentlemen, boys, and girls in its theme parks in order to create that magical moment for children who do not identify with traditional gender roles. WebOn Monday, Chapek sent a Morrell-approved company-wide email claiming that he preferred to speak through Disney content and behind-the-scenes machinations. He was the executive, he executes policy, no one else. The Democrat Party was visibly angry, and the media spread lies about the bill being a Dont Say Gay bill. ABC Newsrecently suspended veteran Washington correspondent David Wright for remarks he made that were captured on video byProject Veritas. The intention is to display ads that are relevant and engaging for the individual user and thereby more valuable for publishers and third party advertisers. All rights reserved. Here are Disney's major milestones under Bob Iger's leadership. The Mickey-Shaped Treats Trending Right Now! I can assure you of that. October 26, 2021 at 5:36 The company did this after adding a Fifth Key last year, Inclusion. Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy. Chapek has a career as an American media executive. In that scenario, someone less experienced with vetting is in charge. Disney employees skew toward the pro-vaccine and anti-Dont Say Gay side, which is California, not Florida. Now, you could argue that inflation is real during the pandemic. Home; Video; Trump Investigations; Right Wing Extremism; Opinion; Impeachment; Corruption; Foreign Policy; Here are CEO Bob Chapeks worst five mistakes thus far. 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. A source familiar with the situation told The Hollywood Reporter that HRC is still in active discussions with Disney around Chapeks initial financial pledge as well as the companys ongoing action around state legislation. 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.. The Human Rights Campaign echoed Pixar staff on the political contributions issue and said it wouldnt accept the donation, putting egg on Disneys face. 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.. 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?. All of the companys three major content suppliers Marvel, Pixar and Lucasfilm have been publicly critical of the companys handling of the situation. 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. 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. 2016 Election Cycle. 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. "His history in all the divisions that really matter really is very supportive of him taking on that role. We have a multi-language translator on the top left. All Rights Reserved. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. Its gut-check time for every CEO and company [in] America. 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. 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. 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. Powered and implemented byFactSet Digital Solutions. There is no question that Chapek was under tremendous pressure. 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 you might imagine, some of them are LGBTQ+ or friends/family members of those who are. 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.". 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. Disney CEO Bob Chapek downplayed criticism of ABC News. The Parental Rights in Education bill has passed the Florida Legislature and awaits the signature of Gov. Ron The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Disney did not return requests for comment. However, in the wake of the Dont Say Gay legislation, such a move feels like a betrayal of their values. 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. 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. We want to hear from you. Then, it required many Golden State employees to switch coasts. And today we are opposing all political donations in the state of Florida pending this review.. Chapek is a liar. Disney chief executive Bob Chapek speaks during a ceremony on Sept. 11, 2015, at Hong Kong Disneyland. Ron DeSantis speaks at a press conference at the Eau Gallie High School aviation hangar on March 22, 2021. This performance should never have gone forward. 2023 CNBC LLC. 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. 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. 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. Political Party Stances; 51% : Florida Gov. This site uses different types of cookies. The bill bars teachers from discussingLGBTQtopics like sexual orientation or gender identity with students until after third grade. Who would have ever thought Walts dream would be so screwed up. Send us a tip using our annonymous form. Of course, nobody does that unless they understand political machinations. Initially, complaints arose about the fact that Disney wasnt letting the drill team wear their headdresses. 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.. When you face challenges and screw up, thats totally understandable. ABC News anchor Amy Robach was recorded on a hot mic claiming the network spiked a story exposing Jeffrey Epstein three years ago. 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. Employees were walking out in protest and ranting to the media. Bob Chapek was tapped on Tuesday to succeedlong-time Disney CEO Bob Iger. 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. Disney is still evil and still pushing CRT. REUTERS. 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. 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. 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 Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Ron DeSantis over the pressure he was facing to weigh in against Floridas Parental Rights Education bill, known as the Dont Say Gay bill, according to DeSantis new memoir. 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. WATCH LIVE WATCH IN THE APP. DeSantis wrotethat Chapek and Disney ultimately caved to leftist media and activist pressure and pressed the false narrative against the bill.. Ron] Desantis desk vetoed. Chapek took on the role of CEO back in February of 2020 from Bob Iger, right before the entire world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. DeSantis signs bill stripping It closed todays trading at $138.62, down 1%. All Rights Reserved. He will be the seventh CEO in Disney's nearly 100-year history. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) of The Walt Disney Company from 2020 to 2022. At this point, I felt confident he knew what he was doing because that was the right move. Employees were walking out in protest and ranting to the media. Chapek's was named chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in 2015 and his tenure was marked by the opening of Shanghai Disney Resort in 2016, the doubling of the Disney Cruise Line fleet, the addition of immersive Star Wars lands at Disneyland and Disney World, the expansion of Marvel-inspired attractions worldwide and massive development projects at Disneyland Paris. In the interim, these shows have filled the void. So, Disney purchased nearly 60 acres of land in Lake Nona, Florida. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Its even possible that nobody was seriously vetting at all. He will officially give up his chairman role at the end of the year. Iger said he had to convince founders that he wouldn't disappoint them after completing an acquisition. Asked if the Florida GOP wanted to comment about Disneys decision to pull contributions, Helen Aguirre Ferre, executive director of the party, wrote in an email: There is no world in which Gov. Chapek is in the third-year of a three-year contract as CEO that expires in February. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Under pressure from LGBTQ activists and progressive employees some of whom who have walked out of the job in protest Disney's Chapeks eventually criticized the Florida legislation, paused all political giving in Florida and apologized to employees. Iger also discussed his strategy around buying animation studio Pixar, comic book and action hero company Marvel Entertainment, and Lucasfilm, home of Star Wars. Meet a Disney Cast Member Advocating for Accessible Technology, Where Was Grogu During The Sequel Trilogy? Disney CEO Bob Chapek admitted at Disneys 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders that he had been actively opposing the bill through back channels despite previously sending out an email to his employees claiming the company would not be taking a stance on the bill.
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