This story has been shared 102,949 times. Occupy Democrats is a political organization and information website that provides a new counterbalance to the Republican Tea Party. 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. WATCH LIVE WATCH IN THE APP. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 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. We need you to be there for us when it is hard and when it counts.. DeSantis signs bill placing Disney district u Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, Buster Murdaugh got 'very drunk' with dad 2 months after mom, brother murdered: source, What's next for Buster Murdaugh after dad's murder conviction, life sentence, Prince Harry was scared to lose Meghan Markle after fight that led to therapy, Prince Harry says psychedelics are fundamental part of his life, Inside Scheana Shay, Raquel Leviss heated confrontation about Tom Sandoval affair, Tom Sizemore And The Dangerous Burden of Desperation, Tom Sandoval, Raquel Leviss planned to tell Ariana Madix about affair. 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. I was glad to speak to Bob yesterday afternoon, and we had a very productive conversation about the need for Disney to put real muscle into stopping whats happening to their employees and to their fans.. Bob Chapek was tapped on Tuesday to succeed long-time Disney CEO Bob Iger. Iger planned to run for POTUS at one point. Disney named Chapek the new CEO last month after Iger abruptly stepped down. Florida Gov. During the town hall, Chapek repeated his expression of regret about the companys decision not to take a public stance against the bill, given the large number of its employees it affected. The more combustible of those situations unfolded over House Bill 1557, the so-called Dont Say legislation. We want to hear from you! A growing number of participants in the retreat were expressing reluctance with pressing ahead given the climate at the company. 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. Knowing my grandchildren will never experienced true Disney magic without political agendas. Squawk Box. Even so, Disney has strengthened the belief that its park price increases are out of control. After two tumultuous years, on November 20, Iger stepped back into the spotlight and Chapek was out. Occupy Democrats is a political organization and information website that provides a new counterbalance to the Republican Tea Party. https://1792exchange.com/spotlightreports/. Still, if the economy ever suddenly suffered a setback, this unforced error would magnify in scope. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The pressure from the WOKE cancel culture was vicious. Home; Video; Trump Investigations; Right Wing Extremism; Opinion; Impeachment; Corruption; Foreign Policy; Send us a tip using our annonymous form. Feature Image: Marc Piasecki/Getty Images, Tags: Bob ChapekBob IgerChapekDisneyLake NonaThe Walt Disney Company. FAQ - New Privacy Policy, New York Posts Karol Markowicz discusses how Disney is pushing back against Floridas parental rights bill and how she is quitting the park on Fox Business Tonight.. Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. 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. Chapek and his team had decided that Florida made more sense as a home base. Pushaw did not immediately return a request for comment Friday. Period. The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. Whether Disney CEO Bob Chapek had considered this before multiple shareholders pressed him about this bill this week during Disneys annual investors call isnt clear. A rep for ABC News toldFox News he would be reassigned after serving his suspension and an insider said he was hoodwinked into making the statements oncamera. Management has altered some aspects of the Disney vacation experience as a tactic to overcome the unprecedented challenges of March 2020 through today. Disney acquired the majority of Fox's assets in 2019. Bob Chapek (C) Chairman of Parks, Experiences, and Products for the Walt Disney Company speaks during the dedication ceremony for the "Rise of the Resistance" attraction opening at Galaxy's Edge at Disneys Hollywood Studios on December 04, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. He has a microbiology degree from Indiana University Bloomington and received his MBA from Michigan State University. For the past 18 months, Disney has fallen into the latter category as leadership has accidentally caused as many screw-ups as it has fixed. In that role, he reorganized the business to cut costs and oversaw a number of popular toy crazes from franchises like "Frozen.". (It was fully repealed in December 2020. But Chapek stayed positive and dismissed the other criticism, saying ABC News has a stellar track record of being objective and reporting the news and will continue to do so in the future., ABC NEW SUSPENDS MATT GUTMAN FOR FALSELY REPORTING ALL OF KOBE BRYANT'S CHILDREN WERE ON DOOMED HELICOPTER, "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss," Danhof told Fox News following the meeting, referencing a famous The Who lyric. Change isn't necessarily bad.". Ron DeSantis said he advised former Disney CEO Bob Chapek to stay out of a political battle over legislation in his state limiting discussion of sex and gender in public schools, according to the Republican's forthcoming book. "Floridas HB 1557, also known as the Dont Say Gay bill, should never have passed and should never have been signed into law," the Disney statement said. People are questioning DeSantiss comments. At the time, I dismissed those concerns, as Chapek had headed Disneys lucrative home video division. On top of the stock woes, Disney CEO Bob Chapek has become a punching bag for cultural critics. 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. Employees were walking out in protest and ranting to the media. Ron DeSantis speaks at a press conference at the Eau Gallie High School aviation hangar on March 22, 2021. Ron DeSantis over the pressure he was facing to weigh in against Floridas Parental Rights Education bill, known as the Dont Say Gay bill, according to DeSantis new memoir. Ever since Chapek spoke up, critics on the right have condemned Disney as being too "woke" and even talked of boycotting the resort. It hasnt gone away. Chapek is in the third-year of a three-year contract as CEO that expires in February. Specialty Preview, Ozy Media Closes In Wake Of Founder Carlos Watson Scandal, TikTok Introduces New Feature To Limit Screen Time For Teens, Prolific Actor Dies At 61 After Aneurysm; Hollywood Reax + Career In Photos, Eyes $51M+ Opening In U.S., A Record For Rocky Spinoff Franchise & Amazon, SAG-AFTRA And Casting Directors Weigh In On Self-Tape Controversy, Oscar Winner Guillermo del Toro On The Films That Lit His Fuse. Speaking to you, reading your messages, and meeting with you have helped me better understand how painful our silence was, Chapek wrote. Periodically, we must employ comment moderation due to an influx of spammers. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. By Laurn Alexa | Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 12:02pm This priority caused him to lose sight of the challenges in working with Hollywood talents. Chapek has a career as an American media executive. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. The stockholder, speaking during the Q&A portion of Disneys annual shareholder meeting, noted that co-stars Pedro Pascal and Gina Carano both controversially referenced Nazi Germany in social media comments but only she was removed. Prior to working at the parks, Chapek led Disney's home entertainment business starting in 2009 and led the organization to record-setting performances. Chapek responded by saying that his very first trip after being named the new CEO was to visit ABC News. Disney has been able to build a robust library of kids movies while using the IP to churn out spinoffs and sequels, adding new content to its flagship streaming service, Disney+, to keep people paying month after month. 02:12. Disney CEO Denies Political Leanings Following Gina Carano Firing During annual shareholder call, CEO Bob Chapek maintains the media giant isnt left leaning or right leaning, but instead stands for the universal values of respect, decency, integrity, and inclusion. "If I werent a shareholder, Id find it amusing. Theyve invested millions of dollars in donations to political parties and more over the last 25 years, theyve given in-kind donations (like tickets to the parks and hotel stays) to political parties, and theyve hired lobbyists. The award winning agents at MickeyTravels are ready to help you book a truly magical vacation! GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE, "Disneys management succumbed to political pressure from activists on the Left, and now its getting hit from the Left and the Right," Keating told Fox News Digital. The Wrap has reported that Imagineers have campaigned for Disney to reconsider. However, its not what Chapek said at the time. "I became a little bit more dismissive of other people's opinions than I should have been," said Iger. Chapek has been overseeing the company's parks, experiences and products division since those divisions were combined in 2018. ABC News anchor Amy Robach was recorded on a hot mic claiming the network spiked a story exposing Jeffrey Epstein three years ago. All Rights Reserved. The controversial Project Veritas is the same group that published footage of ABC anchor Amy Robach claiming ABC News executives killeda story that would have exposed the now-deceased sex offenderJeffrey Epsteinthree years ago. But that's neither good nor bad. Disney CEO Bob Chapek has had private phone calls this year with House Republican leaders including House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Robert ChapekPolitical Campaign Contributions2016 Election Cycle. He was the So, Disney had to do many of these things, and I would agree with you. Park officials reeeeeaaally dont want headlines with racist chant in them. He got played here. November 21, 2022 by Mary Bob Chapek was born Robert Alan Chapek on August 21, 1960, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Bob Iger, the former Disney CEO whose decades-long tenure at the company ended in December, tweeted his opposition to the legislation weeks ago. Dave Filoni Answers, Relieve the Battle of Hoth With This Star Wars Mystery Pin Set, Dining / Disney California Adventure / Disneyland, Must-Try Menu Items at Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The segment includes Disney's travel and leisure businesses, including six resort destinations and a cruise line, its consumer products operations, including all of its licensing of apparel, toys, home goods, digital games, apps, publishing and retail locations, as well as all of its theme parks globally. Its just a bit more subtle. "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. Chapek took on the role of CEO back in February of 2020 from Bob Iger, right before the entire world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Im a devout believer that the least excusable mistakes stem from self-inflicted wounds and unforced errors. Bob Iger, the former Disney CEO whose decades-long tenure at the company ended in December, tweeted his opposition to the legislation weeks ago. Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy. The Shanghai and Hong Kong Disney parks have been shuttered until the outbreak can be contained and there are concerns from analysts that upcoming Disney film releases like "Mulan" could be disrupted because cinemas are currently closed in China. Wright then expounded at length on his political views. Critics have depicted the bill as hurtful to LGBTQ inclusiveness and dubbed it the "Don't Say Gay" bill. What Is Bob Chapek Political Party? Wright was disciplined after higher-ups at ABC News reviewedfootagein whichWright described himself as a "socialist" and criticized the network for the way in which it chooses to present the news. But DeSantis pushed on, signing a law to strip Disney World of its Reedy Creek control on Monday. Many of the calls The Mickey-Shaped Treats Trending Right Now! "Right now, the course that Bob has laid is one that we fully intend to follow and I think will pay dividends for our shareholders for years to come," he said. Disney allowed the drill team to perform based on an audition tape it had sent. Iger said he spent months personally getting to know Apple and Pixar founder Steve Jobs, Star Wars' creator George Lucas, former Marvel Chairman Ike Perlmutter and Fox controlling shareholder Rupert Murdoch. Greg Abbott on a different front. 2016 Election Cycle. A recent CNBC article referenced Chapeks perceived lack of emotional intelligence. Chapek is far less publicly political than his predecessor, who once considered a run for the Democratic nomination for president. Contribution Chapeks ill-considered ruling last year would force those people to move to a place where they already feel unwelcome. 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. ", WATCH: Disney's Bob Iger turns CEO job to Chapek. Employees were walking out in protest and ranting to the media. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Iger acknowledged Chapek likely won't make the same decisions he would have made as future problems arise. 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. Walt Disney CEO Bob Chapek is pausing all of the companys political donations in Florida after the passage of the dont say gay bill and apologized to employees for his silence during the months-long debate on the measure. That has become increasingly important as streaming video slowly replaces linear pay TV and movie theaters as the dominant form of entertainment distribution. Ron DeSantis speaks at a press conference at the Eau Gallie High School aviation hangar on March 22, 2021. In March, Disney became entangled in a heated dispute with Gov. Home; Video; Trump Investigations; Right Wing Extremism; Opinion; Impeachment; Corruption; Foreign Policy; Interested in booking a Disney Vacation? "His history in all the divisions that really matter really is very supportive of him taking on that role. "I didn't do the deal myself, but it was singular in terms of the pursuit one on one in some cases being as candid as I possibly could be, and I think as authentic as I could be, and developing a relationship, even if it was developed over a relatively brief period of time.". Bob Chapek was tapped on Tuesday to succeed long-time Disney CEO Bob Iger. An amendment from GOP state Sen. Jeff Brandes that would have widened the classroom instruction ban to human sexuality, and not specifically orientation and identity, failed to pass. The weeklong mess also elicited criticism from the right, as Fox News picked up on the DeSantis administrations portrayal of what they derided as woke Disney trying to get the state to change its ways. 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." ", Nothing in the Florida legislation itself mentions the word gay. Apparently, a Texas high school doesnt know what year it is and still performs a routine featuring Indianettes.. That philosophy applies to Disneys park behavior during the pandemic as well. "It's development of a relationship," Iger said. WebCanada Disney CEO Bob Chapek Apologizes to LGBTQ Employees, Announces Pause for Political Donations in Florida variety This thread is archived New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast 29K 7 1.6K Related Topics Politics 1.6K comments Best AutoModerator 1 yr. ago As a reminder, this subreddit is for civil discussion. So, Disney purchased nearly 60 acres of land in Lake Nona, Florida. This year, Mr. Chapek contended with one crisis after another, some of his own making. Thanks to a reportedly massive payment Disney sent to Johansson, the two parties have since made up. All Disney employees were invited to attend the town hall this morning, which Deadline was told was part of an ongoing conversation series that began in 2020. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung / AP Newsroom). "I obviously have huge shoes to fill," Chapek told CNBC's Julia Boorstin on "Closing Bell" Tuesday. Iger said he's felt himself become increasingly dismissive of other people's ideas, a sign he should let someone else lead Disney. (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via / Getty Images). All rights reserved. As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com Disney CEO Bob Chapek now claims he wants the company to be everything for everyone after he caved to the woke mob and fought the anti-grooming law in Florida. And Laurene and Steve and [Iger's wife] Willow [Bay] and I sat down at a dinner, and he toasted to the deal we had done some years earlier, convinced that it was the right thing to do for Disney and for Pixar. Got a confidential news tip? Disney CEO Bob Chapek is facing a crisis of confidence in his leadership that is fueling an atypical level of turmoil at the top of the worlds largest entertainment company.. If you dont see your language, email sara@independentsentinel.com we will add it. Would love your thoughts, please comment. In a span of a month, Disney went from hiring the actress for a Tower of Terror movie to calling her ungrateful and selfishthe week she was having a baby.