Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suggested Disney to drop its ongoing lawsuit against the state, emphasizing his commitment to treating all businesses equally and promoting a flourishing economy in Florida.
In the ongoing dispute with Disney, DeSantis suggested it’s time for both sides to turn their attention to more constructive endeavors.
“I would just say go back to what you did well, I think it’s going to be the right business decision,” DeSantis said during a CNBC interview. Host Brian Sullivan asked what DeSantis would say if Disney CEO Bob Iger called.
“We’ve basically moved on, they’re suing the state of Florida, they’re going to lose that lawsuit,” declared DeSantis. “So what I would say is drop the lawsuit.”
The origins of this legal feud trace back to Disney’s opposition to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, which limited discussions on gender and sexual orientation in classrooms.
The company’s intervention in state politics was not welcomed by either state politicians. Many customers also objected to the House of Mouse publicly supporting policies they called “woke.”
DeSantis said during the interview that Disney has problems apart from its battle with Florida.
He remarked that “parents have lost some confidence that this is a company that’s really speaking to what they want, the way it had been traditionally.”
The California-based company threw public support behind LGBTQ advocates and lobbied against the controversial Florida bill that barred educators from discussing sex or gender with children in grades K–3.
Disney’s opposition to the bill prompted DeSantis to ask the state Legislature to regain control over Disney World’s special tax district, Reedy Creek Improvement District, to which a 1967 legislative act granted autonomy.
In response to DeSantis’ moves to replace Reedy Creek with a state-controlled district, Disney sued him and the state of Florida.
Despite the legal battle, the entertainment giant’s park business remains strong, according to a Fox Business report.
Disney’s Parks, Experiences, and Products segment revenue has surpassed expectations in the most recent quarter, reflecting the resilience of the company amid the challenges.
The disagreement between the governor and the entertainment conglomerate escalated when DeSantis and his allies nullified Disney’s contracts in the special tax district.
This move resulted in Disney accusing DeSantis of using government power against the company, leading to the current lawsuit.
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