Though Bob Chapek finally broke his silence on Florida's controversial "Don't Say Gay" bill, what he didn't say sparked further backlash. The CEO of the Walt Disney Company told staffers on Monday that he was "committed to creating a more inclusive company," but he stopped short of publicly condemning the legislation.
"[W]hile not perfect, our company has a long history of supporting the LGBTQ+ community — and in fact, has played an important role in the personal journeys of so many of our employees," Chapek wrote in an internal memo, which was obtained by Deadline. "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. And, we are committed to creating a more inclusive company — and world. I understand that the very need to reiterate that commitment means we still have more work to do."
