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Disney to pause political donations after controversy over 'Don't Say Gay' bill, CEO says
Disney is halting all political donations after controversy over Florida’s proposed "Don’t Say Gay" bill, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said Friday.
Culture & Entertainment
Disney is halting all political donations after controversy over Florida’s proposed "Don’t Say Gay" bill, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said Friday.
Chapek said this week he called DeSantis and conveyed his "disappointment" in the bill during a Disney shareholders meeting.
But he did so a day after the bill was passed, prompting critics to say the company did not stand up for its LGBTQ cast members and guests.
“You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down. I am sorry,” Chapek wrote in an email to Disney employees Friday.
“We are increasing our support for advocacy groups to combat similar legislation in other states. We are hard at work creating a new framework for our political giving that will ensure our advocacy better reflects our values. And today, we are pausing all political donations in the state of Florida pending this review,” the statement continues.
Chapek vows to be a better LGBTQ ally in the email.
On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis leveled a scathing attack statement against Disney on the day after the company's CEO expressed "disappointment" in a controversial bill nicknamed the "Don't Say Gay" bill.
In rejecting the statement, the governor pointed out Disney revenues are partly dependent on the success of its parks in China where human rights abuses continue.
“You have companies, like a Disney, that are going to say and criticize parents' rights and criticize the fact that we don't want transgenderism in kindergarten and first grade classrooms,” DeSantis said. “If that's the hill that they are going to die on, then how do they possibly explain lining their pockets with their relationship from the Communist Party of China.”
Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani points out most of the company's political contributions which partly come from theme park profits in China go to the governor and Republican party–$6 million since 2020. Meanwhile, Disney benefits from tax breaks from the GOP-led government.