Disney CEO Bob Iger spoke out about the company’s previous battle with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and how it plans to move forward.
Iger made the remark about his predecessor’s feud with DeSantis during a town hall event with employees.
When asked about the state legislature’s move to strip Disney of its special administrative status, Iger replied, “I was sorry to see us dragged into that battle.”
He added, “The State of Florida has been important to us for a long time. And we have been very important to the State of Florida. That is something I’m extremely mindful of and will articulate if I get the chance.”
Iger also responded to the suggestion by the company’s employees that they wish “Disney stayed out of politics.”
He explained, “Do I like the company being embroiled in controversy? Of course not. It can be distracting, and it can have a negative impact on the company. And to the extent that I can work to kind of quiet things down, I’m going to do that.”
Watch Iger’s comments below:
Iger expressed regret that Disney engaged in the high-profile fight against Gov. DeSantis, which resulted in the state legislature stripping the company of its special administrative status. "I was sorry to see us dragged into that battle." pic.twitter.com/889toYW5ye
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) November 29, 2022
Additionally, Iger was asked about the parental rights legislation, also known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Iger explained the company’s “LGBTQ employees” are “very important to us.”
The company’s CEO noted “inclusion” is a large part of its storytelling but acknowledged there must be a “delicate balance.”
He said it is important to “listen to the audience” and “have respect for the people you’re serving.”
In response to the so-called "Don't Say Gay" legislation, Iger said Disney would still promote "inclusion," but suggested that the company must strike a "delicate balance" and "listen to [its] audience" and "have respect for the people that [it's] serving." This is a retreat. pic.twitter.com/bZBnQdm616
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) November 29, 2022
During an appearance on Fox News Tuesday night, DeSantis responded to Iger’s remarks.
“We didn’t drag them in, Tucker, they went in on their own,” DeSantis said.
He continued, “They brought this on themselves. 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.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis reacts to recent comments from Disney CEO Bob Iger: "They brought this on themselves." pic.twitter.com/t6CC6ieEM3
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) November 30, 2022
Last week, it was announced Iger would once again be serving as CEO of The Walt Disney Company, as IJR reported.
Iger replaced Bob Chapek who previously served as the company’s CEO since 2020.
