The debut of "Disney Enchantment" during "The World's Most Magical Celebration" Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary at Magic Kingdom on Sept. 30, 2021, in Orlando, Florida. The head of Disney's parks, experiences and products is now its new CEO. WebOn Monday, Chapek sent a Morrell-approved company-wide email claiming that he preferred to speak through Disney content and behind-the-scenes machinations. The task force will develop strategy and action plans to engage with LGBTQ+ employees, community partners and content creators. 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 accused Hollywood and the company of a double standard in firing Gina Carano from The Mandalorian because shes a conservative. Bob Chapek at the Pinocchio premiere in December 2022. In a second memo to Disney workers, Chapek said Disney was suspending all political donations in Florida. News Analysis. Chapek and his team had decided that Florida made more sense as a home base. 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. FLORIDIOT: DeSantis Disney lackey thinks tap water makes you gay. ABC News anchor Amy Robach was recorded on a hot mic claiming the network spiked a story exposing Jeffrey Epstein three years ago. Here are CEO Bob Chapeks worst five mistakes thus far. 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. 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. Preference cookies enable a website to remember information that changes the way the website behaves or looks, like your preferred language or the region that you are in. In a letter sent to Disney workers, Chapek said the bill was not just an issue about a bill in Florida, but instead yet another challenge to basic human rights., You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down, he wrote. When Chapek took the job as head of Disney, critics lamented his lack of experience with the Hollywood studio system. Chapek People are questioning DeSantiss comments. Its only temporary and has nothing to do with the content of the comments. Chapek has a career as an American media executive. 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. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. Earlier in the week, Chapek said DeSantis had agreed to meet with him to ensure the bill wouldnt be weaponized against the LGBTQ community. Disney CEO Told DeSantis He Didnt Want to Do It Corporate statements do very little to change outcomes or minds, he wrote, and are often weaponized by one side or the other to further divide. So what Disney says means nothing? I am sorry. (ABC/ RANDY SAGER). They left for other gigs. Ron DeSantis said that ex-Disney CEO Bob Chapek complained to him about the pressure he was under from the left [WOKEs] to join in on the Governors new education bill restricting gender identity lessons, PK-3. Bob Chapek The Parental Rights in Education bill has passed the Florida Legislature and awaits the signature of Gov. Market data provided by Factset. The Human Rights Campaign echoed Pixar staff on the political contributions issue and said it wouldnt accept the donation, putting egg on Disneys face. Chapek was replaced by longtime CEO Bob Iger in late 2022. This story has been shared 151,093 times. I am sorry.. 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. While Chapek said he spoke with DeSantis by phone and would meet with him, DeSantis spokeswoman Christina Pushaw said Thursday no in-person meeting had been scheduled. Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek privately complained to Florida Gov. Iger acknowledged Chapek likely won't make the same decisions he would have made as future problems arise. All Rights Reserved. Chapek released Black Widow on Disney+ without checking whether the films star, Scarlett Johansson, minded. That explains the inconsistency. FLORIDIOT: DeSantis Disney lackey thinks tap water makes you gay. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. Disney shareholder tells CEO Chapek to stop wasting money on WebBob Chapek. It hasnt gone away. In truth, the only decision I believe Disney shouldnt have made is the removal of Magical Express. 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 Political Campaign Contributions. 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. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter, Interim president Joni Madison confirmed she and Bob Chapek "had a very productive conversation about the need for Disney to put real muscle into stopping what's happening to their employees and to their fans.". Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. The political mistake ties back to a previous choice. In that scenario, someone less experienced with vetting is in charge. He also played a key role in the commercialization of the studio's film business. Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy. Back in 2018, Danhof confronted then-CEO Iger about ABC News Joy Behar, who was under fire at the time for comments that mocked Vice President Pences Christian faith. Disney acquired the majority of Fox's assets in 2019. VIDEO 3:58 03:58. Disney CEO Bob Chapek prepares for GOP to become majority in ", Nathanson said the selection of Chapek was not a surprise and a "win-win for the company.". 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. Ex-Disney CEO Chapek griped to DeSantis about 'pressure' to slam Bob Chapek 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. Disney CEO Told DeSantis He Didnt Want to Do It. Now, of course, taking Political Party Stances; 51% : Florida Gov. 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Management has altered some aspects of the Disney vacation experience as a tactic to overcome the unprecedented challenges of March 2020 through today. Look no further! Bob Chapek 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 Im a devout believer that the least excusable mistakes stem from self-inflicted wounds and unforced errors. 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. Disney shows off its post-Iger politics | CNN Business Ron DeSantis over the pressure he was facing to weigh in against Floridas Parental It sounds about right. In addition to pledging to enlist an outside adviser to guide the companys efforts, Chapek also is creating a companywide task force led by studios SVP Global Communications Paul Roeder and Disney Parks marketing executive Lisa Becket. While Iger didn't speak about specific decisions, he said he was increasingly invalidating points from co-workers because he'd "heard every argument before." Legal Statement. 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. Disney CEO Bob Chapek gets close to GOP lawmakers ahead of Employees were walking out in protest and ranting to the media. Disney CEO Told DeSantis He Didnt Want to Do It "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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! pic.twitter.com/OWsGTUoeCA, Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) March 29, 2022, SCOOP: Ive obtained video from inside Disneys all-hands meeting about the Florida parental rights bill, in which executive producer Latoya Raveneau says her team has implemented a not-at-all-secret gay agenda and is regularly adding queerness to childrens programming. This story has been shared 102,949 times. 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.". Read More. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. Bob Chapek Initially, complaints arose about the fact that Disney wasnt letting the drill team wear their headdresses. Disney has intentionally left some fans behind, but it may need them later. He was the Iger will assume the role of executive chairman. The debut of "Disney Enchantment" during "The World's Most Magical Celebration" Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary at Magic Kingdom on Sept. 30, 2021, in Orlando, Florida. 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. Knowing my grandchildren will never experienced true Disney magic without political agendas. I havent seen anything like this before.. Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek last year complained to Florida Gov. 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. All of the companys three major content suppliers Marvel, Pixar and Lucasfilm have been publicly critical of the companys handling of the situation. "His history in all the divisions that really matter really is very supportive of him taking on that role. Period. 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. (Getty Images. Some folks took offense at that, which isdefinitely a take. Bob Iger, the former Disney CEO whose decades-long tenure at the company ended in December, tweeted his opposition to the legislation weeks ago. 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 Democrat Party was visibly angry, and the media spread lies about the bill being a Dont Say Gay bill. 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. Iger credited his ability to get founders to sell him assets to his intense focus on building personal relationships. Ron "Parks is a business where they use data to drive pricing and engagement," Nathanson said. At the time, I dismissed those concerns, as Chapek had headed Disneys lucrative home video division. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Still, if the economy ever suddenly suffered a setback, this unforced error would magnify in scope. Periodically, we must employ comment moderation due to an influx of spammers. He lied and supported the victimization of children. Bob Chapek 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.. Chapek has not commented on the DeSantis report. The pressure from the WOKE cancel culture was vicious. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Chapek has been overseeing the company's parks, experiences and products division since those divisions were combined in 2018. "Look, the world is changing dramatically, and it's important for the CEO of a company to address all of those changes rapidly," Iger said. Bob Chapek's time as the CEO of Disney has been tumultuous, to say the least. 2023 CNBC LLC. A Division of NBCUniversal. Disney to Pause Florida Political Donations Amid Dont Say Gay John Oliver Calls Bob Chapeks Explanation For Disney Donations To Dont Say Gay Politicians Actively Insulting. He states his positions situationally for his personal profit. Ousted Disney chief executive Bob Chapek is set to receive a hefty paycheck following his exit. REUTERS. But this time is different. Occupy Democrats is a political organization and information website that provides a new counterbalance to the Republican Tea Party. Amid the melee, DeSantis issued a warning over Disney getting involved in the legislation. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. Disney allowed the drill team to perform based on an audition tape it had sent. He said he was overwhelmed by professionalism and objectivity of the news division but admitted Wright said some things on the Project Veritas video to make the company question his objectivity. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Squawk Box. Questionable decision-making and actions by Disney post-covid may be why a petition to fire Bob Chapek has been brought to fruition. This site uses different types of cookies. The Wrap has reported that Imagineers have campaigned for Disney to reconsider. Ray Keating, an economist and editor of DisneyBizJournal.com, said when companies dive into politics, it rarely turns out and well. Most of the decisions appear understandable in isolation. Chapek is far less publicly political than his predecessor, who once considered a run for the Democratic nomination for president. Ron DeSantis. The company did this after adding a Fifth Key last year, Inclusion. DeSantis, a rumored 2024 presidential hopeful, has not yet announced if he will run. We've received your submission. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Colleagues perceive former CEO Bob Iger as a highly political person with an acute mind for such situations. (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via / Getty Images). Robert Chapek - $11,106 in Political Contributions for 2016 How Disney and CEO Bob Chapek made a mess of the companys DeSantis published the conversation with Chapek in his memoir, The Courage to be Free: Floridas Blueprint for American Revival, shared with Fox News Digital. Disney CEO Bob Iger, Here are Disney's major milestones under Bob Iger's leadership, Iger had repeatedly pushed off his retirement. "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. We need Disneys partnership in getting the bills heading to [Gov. We cant say if he told DeSantis, but why wouldnt he tell him? And, we are committed to creating a more inclusive company and world, Chapek wrote in a memo to staff in March 2022. The decision by the largest employer in Central Florida could have a major impact on election fundraising for both parties, and it escalates in his war of words with Gov. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. You can look at the comments section for any Disney discussion, and its an inevitable statement from some. In addition to pausing political donations to all Florida state representatives pending a review, Chapek also told employees in a company-wide memo that Disney would increase its support for advocacy groups to combat similar legislation in other states and is working on a new framework for its political giving that will ensure our advocacy better reflects our values.. 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. Ron] Desantis desk vetoed. News Analysis. Asked about Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy, Chapek said he is absolutely thrilled with her and the company looks forward to having Kathy directing the activities of the entire Lucasfilm operation for many years to come.. If you dont see your language, email sara@independentsentinel.com we will add it. (It was fully repealed in December 2020. This performance should never have gone forward. Bob Chapek We want to hear from you! Earlier this month, Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke out on the pro-Trump mob attack on the US Capitol. But Im an ally you can count on, and I will be an outspoken champion for the protections, visibility and opportunity you deserve.. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) of The Walt Disney Company from 2020 to 2022. DeSantis signed the bill into law last March 28, which prompted Disney to publicly rip the new law and stand with Disneys LGBTQ employees and advocates in Florida. 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 We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites. "That was an early sign that it was time. Disney employees skew toward the pro-vaccine and anti-Dont Say Gay side, which is California, not Florida. Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy. Chapek responded by saying that his very first trip after being named the new CEO was to visit ABC News. Bob Chapek Iger planned to run for POTUS at one point. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Disney CEO Bob Chapek recently responded to accusations of a company double standard during the Q&A portion of Disneys annual shareholder meeting.One shareholder held that Gina Carano was fired due to her conservative views, rather than the offensive nature of her fateful post, noting, as others have, that left-leaning co-star Pedro ABC Newsrecently suspended veteran Washington correspondent David Wright for remarks he made that were captured on video byProject Veritas. Disney is still evil and still pushing CRT. Home; Video; Trump Investigations; Right Wing Extremism; Opinion; Impeachment; Corruption; Foreign Policy; 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. Ever since Chapek spoke up, critics on the right have condemned Disney as being too "woke" and even talked of boycotting the resort. He will officially give up his chairman role at the end of the year. Florida Gov. DeSantis in new book says Disney CEO complained of pressure Greg Abbott on a different front. "If I werent a shareholder, Id find it amusing. 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. Chapek is in the third-year of a three-year contract as CEO that expires in February. Political Party Stances; 51% : Florida Gov. 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. Everything else is justifiable. 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. Its gut-check time for every CEO and company [in] America. Chapek allegedly told him he didnt want to get involved but hadnt seen anything like it, but thats not what he said in public. Iger sat down for an exclusive interview with CNBC's David Faber. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. DeSantis cements takeover of Disney's special Florida district, He then transitioned to the company's consumer products team in 2011 as president of Disney consumer products. Disney did not return requests for comment. CEO Denies Political Leanings Following Gina Carano I think change, I think generally speaking, change is good. I want to be crystal clear: I and the entire leadership team unequivocally stand in support of our LGBTQ+ employees, their families, and their communities. Its even possible that nobody was seriously vetting at all. 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. These cast members were already reticent to uproot their lives for Disney. The bias is blatant.. pic.twitter.com/eJnZMpKIXT. During the pandemic, Disney has ramped up its usage of high school performers at theme parks, especially Magic Kingdom. It should never have reached that point, though. Alas, Chapek fell too deeply in love with the idea of increasing Disney+ subscriber numbers. "Bob [Chapek] is going to address them probably differently perhaps than I may have. HERITAGE ACTION CALLS OUT DISNEY: 'IT REALLY IS A WOKE WORLD AFTER ALL', "We all have the right to have our voices heard on issues, but not on the shareholders dime.". He stepped down last year as CEO, succeeded by Bob Chapek, but has stayed on as chairman through the coronavirus pandemic. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. 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.". Contribution Disney hasnt brought back all its union-based performers yet, although it has taken recent steps to do so. "Im totally fine with reining in corporations, I think theyre too many billionaires, and I think theres a wealth gap thats a problem. TV. Many of them have led to price increases. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, 2024 frontrunner: Trump wins CPAC straw poll in a landslide, Ron DeSantis skips CPAC as organization faces scandals, Florida bill would require bloggers writing about DeSantis to share pay info, DeSantis rips other GOPers for acting like potted plants in face of woke ideology fight: report, Chapek, who had stayed silent on the bill, re-evaluate Disneys special tax district, called Reedy Creek, signing a law to strip Disney World of its Reedy Creek control on Monday. The email said a member of his staff would hand-deliver a copy of the bill to Disneys Orlando headquarters and asked for gas money to get him there. Legal Statement. Bob Chapek "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. Many of them chose to retire or find other jobs rather than move to Florida. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided byRefinitiv Lipper. In November 2022, longtime Disney CEO Bob Iger announced he was replacing Chapek after two years away from the company.