Disney has a new CEO facing an old problem with the state of Florida from trying to influence state politics.
The family-friendly company weighed in on controversial Florida legislation banning schools from providing sexual orientation and gender identity instruction to K-3 students. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) called it the Parental Rights in Education Act but opponents hijacked it, nicknaming it the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Disney’s former CEO Bob Chapek got on the bad side of DeSantis after he publicly condemned the bill. The Sunshine State’s governor blasted Disney, promising his state would not be run by a “woke” company. DeSantis moved to revoke the unique Reedy Creek tax district enjoyed by Disney.
The Daily Wire further reported:
Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis slammed Disney during an interview Tuesday night after the company’s CEO, Bob Iger, said that he was sorry that the company was “dragged” into a fight with the state of Florida.
DeSantis made the remarks during an interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson where he was asked about Disney’s opposition to the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, which banned schools from talking about sexual matters with young children.
Carlson played a clip where Iger said, “I was sorry to see us dragged into that battle. And I have no idea exactly what its ramifications are in terms of the business itself.”
“What I can say is, the state of Florida has been important to us for a long time, and we have been very important to the state of Florida,” Iger continued. “That is something I’m extremely mindful of and will articulate if I get the chance.”
When asked how he would respond to Iger’s remarks, DeSantis said, “We didn’t drag them in, Tucker. They went in on their own, and not only opposed the bill. They threatened to get it repealed.”
“These are parents’ rights, important policies in our state that are very popular. And so they brought this on themselves,” he continued. “All we did was stand up for what’s right. And, yes, they’re a big, powerful company. But you know what? We stand up for our folks. And I don’t care what a Burbank-based California company says about our laws.”
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