Disney chairman Bob Iger has largely let the company’s lawyers do the talking in its dispute with Florida Governor and likely Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis.
After the company opposed a Florida law last year that came to be known as the “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, DeSantis targeted Disney for being “woke.”
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DeSantis pushed a bill through the Republican-controlled state legislature to take over control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a legal entity that effectively gave Disney governing control over the huge swath of land it acquired to build Disney World's Magic Kingdom and its subsequent theme parks.
But once the board of the newly created Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, all DeSantis cronies, took over they found a rude surprise.
"A February 8th Development Agreement between Disney Parks & Resorts and the Reedy Creek Improvement District sets a plan for the next 30+ years," BlogMickey.com reported." The effect is to leave the new board with little to do other than fume.
Iger Opens Up About Florida
Perhaps that’s why Iger, who returned as CEO last fall after the dispute had already started, now feels more comfortable talking about this issue.
In lengthy comments during the company's recent annual meeting, Iger laid out his thoughts.
“A year ago the company took a position on pending Florida legislation and while the company may not have handled the position that it took very well, a company has a right to freedom of speech just like individuals do,” Iger said in response to a shareholder question.
“The governor got very angry about the position Disney took and seemed like he’s decided to retaliate against us, including the naming of a new board to oversee the property and the business in effect to seek to punish a company for its exercise of a constitutional right,” He added.
“That just seems really wrong to me, against any company or individual, but particularly against a company means so much to the state that you live in,” Iger said.
Disney's Importance to Florida
Iger took pains to point out Disney’s importance to the state, saying it’s the largest taxpayer in Florida; it has more than 75,000 employees there; that about 50 million people will go through its gates this year; and that it’s planning to invest $17 billion in Disney World over the next 10 years. Iger said that will create an estimated 13,000 new Disney jobs, plus thousands more of indirect jobs.
“Any action that thwarts those efforts simply to retaliate for a position the company took sounds not just anti-business but it sounds anti-Florida,” Iger said.
Later, Iger reiterated the company’s right to take positions on issues it deems important. “There are going to be times when we decide to weigh on an issue that we believe is worthy of debate because of its relevance and importance to our business or to our employees. And there are times when I actually believe we shouldn’t. But I strongly feel that we alone have to determine whether, when or how to weigh in on issue whether it’s private or public.”
