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Bob Chapek, New York Times wrote this week, should appear the word “a crisis of its own. “It’s been a long week for the Disney CEO. He started it off by sending a memo to his employees on Monday saying that, while he and the leadership team support LGTBQ+ employees and community, the company will not release it. public statement condemning the so-called “Don’t say gay“In Florida, where it’s a big employer. Many people who work for Disney, as well as Walt Disney’s niece, are not satisfied.
Then, on Tuesday, the Florida legislature passed a measure restricting discussions of gender and sexuality in grade-level schools. The outcry continued until Wednesday, when Chapek was at the company’s shareholder meeting, speech, “Our original approach, no matter how well-intentioned, didn’t get the job done.” Disney has now opposed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
There’s some history here. Before the bill was passed, Orlando Sentinel report at the end of February that Disney raised money for all of its sponsors and co-responders. When that prompted LGBTQ advocates to call for a statement from Disney about its position, Chapek sent the memo that Monday to his employees, saying that “the company’s statements do little to make change outcomes or minds” —and added that Disney can instead bring about change “through the inspiring content we produce.”
The staff were not satisfied with Chapek’s answer. owl house Dana Terrace creator posted a video on Twitter says, “I hate having ethical questions about how I earn my own bread and how I support my loved ones.” DuckTales Writer Benjamin Siemon tweeted, “I still can’t express how painful the Disney LGBTQ+ employee community is today. We are devastated. The hashtag #BoycottDisney started trending.
Walt Disney’s niece, Abigail Disney, also dealt a blow, saying Chapek was “worried about the right-wing backlash” than Disney employees and fans. “The time of neutral is long gone,” she writes. “Disney for what? Is it to pretend what America is, or to define a vision for a world in which fantasy, love, kindness, loyalty, and loyalty are fundamental values? Nothing about the ‘don’t say gay’ bill or about Chapek’s memo fits any of those values. “
Backlash aside, Chapek’s statement doesn’t make much sense. He said that the statements of the big companies don’t have much impact and that Disney can make that impact through its content. (It’s also a bit annoying; Disney Yes has made gay rights statements before, like it did in 2016 when the company threatened to stop filming in Georgia if the state passed proposed legislation that would allow organizations to deny services and employment for LGBTQ+ people for “faith-based” reasons. The measure was ultimately vetoed by the governor.)
