By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. All Rights Reserved. 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. In November 2022, longtime Disney CEO Bob Iger announced he was replacing Chapek after two years away from the company. Its gut-check time for every CEO and company [in] America. 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. He also played a key role in the commercialization of the studio's film business. Chapek has also personally condemned the bill most vigorously, albeit a week too late. ABC News anchor Amy Robach was recorded on a hot mic claiming the network spiked a story exposing Jeffrey Epstein three years ago. "Heres a suggestion for Disney CEO Bob Chapek: Get back to business, that is, excellence in storytelling, and stop wasting shareholders' money on political crusades that have nothing to do with Disneys business," Keating told Fox News Digital. Here are CEO Bob Chapeks worst five mistakes thus far. It closed todays trading at $138.62, down 1%. Political Party Stances; 51% : Florida Gov. CEO Denies Political Leanings Following Gina Carano Everyone was attacking Governor DeSantis with bald-faced lies, and he was the one who stood for what he believed. The Courage to be Free: Floridas Blueprint for American Revival, Fidelity Finds 401Ks Lost 25% of Their Value in 2022, Biden Says He May Be a White Boy, But Hes Not Stupid, One State Will Make It illegal for Vaccinated Donors to Give Blood, Rumors Are That John Fetterman Is Essentially Brain Dead, Dr. Malone on the Possible US Role in the Development of Coronavirus, They Set Us Up! Bombshell J6 Footage Shows Metro Police Discussion, Prophylaxis Nasal Spray Might Put an End to Vaccines. Republicans argued the bill protects parental rights, while Democrats and LGBTQ groups contend it was intentionally vague and could have a chilling effect on teachers and students. Pushaw did not immediately return a request for comment Friday. Disney is still evil and still pushing CRT. Questionable decision-making and actions by Disney post-covid may be why a petition to fire Bob Chapek has been brought to fruition. "Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that. Disney hasnt brought back all its union-based performers yet, although it has taken recent steps to do so. All rights reserved. Corporate statements do very little to change outcomes or minds, he wrote, and are often weaponized by one side or the other to further divide. So what Disney says means nothing? You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down. In truth, the only decision I believe Disney shouldnt have made is the removal of Magical Express. "Parks is the only business they have, before [streaming], that's direct to consumer.". (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via / Getty Images). When Chapek took the job as head of Disney, critics lamented his lack of experience with the Hollywood studio system. According to Fox News, in his book, The Courage to Be Free: Floridas Blueprint for American Revival,which will be released Tuesday, DeSantis recounts a private conversation he had last year with Chapek, who had stayed silent on the bill. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. New Disney CEO Bob Chapek was confronted by an investor about ongoing issues at ABC News on Wednesday, but the high-powered executive brushed off the criticism, and the investor then blasted him for having his "head in the sand when it comes to the pervasive anti-conservative bias across ABC News.". Under pressure from LGBTQ activists and progressive employees some of whom who have walked out of the job in protest Disney's Chapeks eventually criticized the Florida legislation, paused all political giving in Florida and apologized to employees. Florida Gov. Chapek learned a harsh lesson that potential political allies behind closed doors are all too happy to attack Disney in the media for personal gain. Disney CEO Chapek Bob Chapek Tuesday said he doesnt really see Disney as characterizing itself as left-leaning or right-leaning responding to a shareholder who In addition to pausing political donations to all Florida state representatives pending a review, Chapek also told employees in a company-wide memo that Disney would increase its support for advocacy groups to combat similar legislation in other states and is working on a new framework for its political giving that will ensure our advocacy better reflects our values.. Home; Video; Trump Investigations; Right Wing Extremism; Opinion; Impeachment; Corruption; Foreign Policy; The bias is blatant.. Ron DeSantis said that ex-Disney CEO Bob Chapek complained to him about the pressure he was under from the left [WOKEs] to join in on the Governors new education bill restricting gender identity lessons, PK-3. A Division of NBCUniversal. Chapek and his team had decided that Florida made more sense as a home base. John Oliver Calls Bob Chapeks Explanation For Disney Donations To Dont Say Gay Politicians Actively Insulting. Its just a bit more subtle. 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. Then, Chapek prioritized Disney+ as the core business model for the entire company. Before joining Disney, Chapek worked in brand management at ketchup maker H.J. Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient. ), The HRC president went on to say that companies need to deliver more than inclusive employment policies and a clever Pride campaign and that corporate values should be guiding principles in how a company shows up for the marginalized, instead of being marketing materials., I promise you, states lucrative tax laws wont matter much to your employees and consumers who are being criminalized for supporting their kids and being pushed back in the closet by the legal system, she said. "Bob's legacy in the company is just profound. He lied and supported the victimization of children. As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com We have a multi-language translator on the top left. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. (ABC/ RANDY SAGER). A 27-year veteran of the Walt Disney Company, Chapek, 60, has a proven track record with consumers having been instrumental in the growth of the company's parks, consumer products and studio film businesses. As the controversy over the Parental Rights in Education bill was coming to a head, Chapek called me. New Trailer Drops For Olaf Short Once Upon A Snowman, Wine Bar George at Disney Springs Offering Brunch Starting March 30th. Bob Chapek Chapek is far less publicly political than his predecessor, who once considered a run for the Democratic nomination for president. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites. FLORIDIOT: DeSantis Disney lackey thinks tap water makes you gay. If signed by DeSantis, the bill would prohibit discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in schools up to the third grade and limits it to age-appropriate students in higher grades. Ousted Disney chief executive Bob Chapek is set to receive a hefty paycheck following his exit. However, once the show started, well, it got awkward fast. At another point in the town hall, the companys HR chief addressed the Florida situation and also affirmed that the company would oppose an effort by Texas Gov. Iger, 70, is leaving Disney after running the company from 2005 to 2020. I am sorry.. "You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down," Chapek said in a statement on March. Ron DeSantis. Disney CEO Bob Chapek prepares for GOP to become majority in Many of the calls And, we are committed to creating a more inclusive company and world, Chapek wrote in a memo to staff in March 2022. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Iger acknowledged Chapek likely won't make the same decisions he would have made as future problems arise. Alas, Chapek fell too deeply in love with the idea of increasing Disney+ subscriber numbers. 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. Bob Chapek was tapped on Tuesday to succeed long-time Disney CEO Bob Iger. Kathleen Kennedy Cites Impact Of Women, Artists Of Color And LGBTQ On Industry Amid Disney Dont Say Gay Backlash PGA Awards. The Human Rights Campaign echoed Pixar staff on the political contributions issue and said it wouldnt accept the donation, putting egg on Disneys face. The original town hall event was announced on March 2, and then on Friday was moved to today so people could attend Tuesdays walkout if they so chose. Read More. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Richard Drew, File. "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. On Monday, Disney and CEO Bob Chapek sent an internal memo following reports that the company had donated thousands of dollars to Florida representatives Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek privately complained to Florida Gov. "He was very, very concerned about Lucasfilm - in many respects his baby, his legacy and there was a trust there too that I think we demonstrated, that we could be trusted," Iger said about Lucas. Even so, Disney has strengthened the belief that its park price increases are out of control. There is no question that Chapek was under tremendous pressure. News Analysis. Robert Chapek. Starting immediately, we are increasing our support for advocacy groups to combat similar legislation in other states, Chapek wrote, possibly referring to a similar measure proposed in Georgia and bills targeting transgender children in Texas and Idaho. If passed, this bill will put vulnerable, young LGBTQ people in jeopardy., Biden had tweeted his opposition to legislation designed to attack LGBTQI+ kids.. The Democrat Party was visibly angry, and the media spread lies about the bill being a Dont Say Gay bill. Bob Chapek To my fellow colleagues, but especially our LGBTQ+ community, thank you to all who have reached out to me sharing your pain, frustration and sadness over the companys response to the Florida Dont Say Gay bill, Chapek said in his letter. Chapek began his Disney career in 1993 as the marketing director for the company's Buena Vista Home Entertainment division, which at that time was focused on VHS tapes. Disney had already been under fire from the bills critics over its contributions to the bills GOP sponsors, including $11,000 over the last 12 years to GOP state Sen. Dennis Baxley of Ocala. Interested in booking a Disney Vacation? Keating, who has written about how Disney's activism is bad for business, said Disney's decisions on the Florida bill has meant the company is catching heat from both sides of the political spectrum. Chapek seems content to stick his head in the sand when it comes to the pervasive anti-conservative bias across ABC News, just as his predecessor Mr. Iger always was. Bob Chapek https://1792exchange.com/spotlightreports/. Of course, nobody does that unless they understand political machinations. Ron Disney chief executive Bob Chapek speaks during a ceremony on Sept. 11, 2015, at Hong Kong Disneyland. Bob This site uses different types of cookies. The kind of people who were the jokes on Portlandia are now in charge of producing childrens entertainment in America https://t.co/auyihRcdnO, SCOOP: Disney diversity and inclusion manager Vivian Ware says the company has eliminated all mentions of ladies, gentlemen, boys, and girls in its theme parks in order to create that magical moment for children who do not identify with traditional gender roles. Disney CEO Bob Chapek Says No Political Bias In Gina Carano 2016 www.independentsentinel.com. Send us a tip using our annonymous form. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Disney has *deep breath* eliminated Magical Express, exchanged free FastPasses for paid Lightning Lane experiences, required Park Passes, temporarily removed the dining plan and most annual passes, and raised many food/drink prices. Bob Chapek ABC NEWS SUSPENDS DAVID WRIGHT FOR REMARKS MADE IN PROJECT VERITAS VIDEO. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. Disney acquired the majority of Fox's assets in 2019. In that scenario, someone less experienced with vetting is in charge. You will be redirected back to your article in, David Lindley Dies: Session Star And Multi-Instrumentalist With Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan Was 78, Film Independent Spirit Awards: Livestream + Latest Winners List, Will Moviegoers Lend An Ear To Children Of The Corn Remake? pic.twitter.com/OWsGTUoeCA, Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) March 29, 2022, SCOOP: Ive obtained video from inside Disneys all-hands meeting about the Florida parental rights bill, in which executive producer Latoya Raveneau says her team has implemented a not-at-all-secret gay agenda and is regularly adding queerness to childrens programming. Then, it required many Golden State employees to switch coasts. Bob Chapek was tapped on Tuesday to succeed long-time Disney CEO Bob Iger. 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. For all other types of cookies we need your permission. However, in the wake of the Dont Say Gay legislation, such a move feels like a betrayal of their values. 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. But Im an ally you can count on, and I will be an outspoken champion for the protections, visibility and opportunity you deserve.. The award winning agents at MickeyTravels are ready to help you book a truly magical vacation! However, one of them provedregrettable. He will be the seventh CEO in Disney's nearly 100-year history. By Laurn Alexa | Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 12:02pm The other way that Disney got hit from the left and right happened last week. Danhof, who has shown up to Disney shareholder meetings to ask fiery questions in the past, told Chapek that he had been imploring former CEO Bob Iger to address ABC News issues for years. Disney has given about $55 million to Republicans, Democrats and political committees in the state over the past 28 years, including about $5 million in 2020 and more than $2 million so far in 2022, state records show. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Bob Chapek The streaming service launched in November. Disney CEO Told DeSantis He Didnt Want to Do It Disney employees skew toward the pro-vaccine and anti-Dont Say Gay side, which is California, not Florida. But that's neither good nor bad. Got a confidential news tip? REUTERS. 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 March, Disney became entangled in a heated dispute with Gov. Thats what has happened, though. Chapeks initial responses to the bill were tepid at best, as he wanted to maintain solid relationships with the legislators. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Still, DeSantis has continued to claim that Chapeks opposition is only because he hadnt bothered to read the bill, according to a DeSantis campaign email sent Thursday. The Florida bill hasnt factored into investors views as of yet, though the companys stock has been languishing near a 52-week low. This performance should never have gone forward. Someone will be now, though. The Mickey-Shaped Treats Trending Right Now! Bill Mahers Real Time Questions The Paths Taken By Disney, TLC, A&E & History Channel. It didnt happen long ago, so we should all remember how they behaved. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. While the Walt Disney Company and its executives had a right to indulge in woke activism, Florida did not have to place the company on a pedestal while they do so especially when the companys activism impacted the rights of parents and the well-being of children, DeSantis added. Parents would be able to sue school districts over the issue. If Disney had merely maintained the status quo, a multi-coastal business operation, none of these headlines would dominate the media. "Bob [Chapek] is going to address them probably differently perhaps than I may have. Chapek learned a harsh lesson that potential political allies behind closed doors are all too happy to attack Disney in the media for personal gain. 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. Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek privately complained to Florida Gov. ", Nothing in the Florida legislation itself mentions the word gay. This is not just about Bob Chapek and Disney, she told the audience. The intention is to display ads that are relevant and engaging for the individual user and thereby more valuable for publishers and third party advertisers. He said the company was increasing support for advocacy All rights reserved. And if that doesnt happen, to get these bills repealed, she added. I think my role is not to take the strategic pillars he's so well established over the last 15 years and continue to work on those and implement those in the marketplace, most importantly our direct-to-consumer initiatives, but at the same time look around the corner for what disruption might be going on in the marketplace that would necessitate a fresh look at those things.". "I obviously have huge shoes to fill," Chapek told CNBC's Julia Boorstin on "Closing Bell" Tuesday. 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. Bob Chapek "Bob is probably the best qualified person in the company to take this job," Michael Nathanson, senior research analyst at MoffettNathanson, said on CNBC's "Closing Bell" Tuesday. Disney has since stated it will no longer donate to political campaigns. These cast members were already reticent to uproot their lives for Disney. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Chapek Conversely, Chapek believes that his best approach is to avoid politics altogether, a legitimate impossibility for a company like Disney. I thought of this belief in combination with the recent political dust-up Disney experienced. October 26, 2021 at 5:36 He said he was overwhelmed by professionalism and objectivity of the news division but admitted Wright said some things on the Project Veritas video to make the company question his objectivity. WATCH LIVE WATCH IN THE APP. Disney this week said it will work to repeal the legislation in Florida because it's dedicated to standing up for the rights and safety of the LGBTQ+ community. 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. Still, if the economy ever suddenly suffered a setback, this unforced error would magnify in scope. Chapek absolutely should have spoken with her first. All Rights Reserved. The bias is blatant. Political Campaign Contributions. Chapek allegedly told him he didnt want to get involved but hadnt seen anything like it, but thats not what he said in public. Thats not even a dig on Chapek. 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. "Over time, I started listening less and maybe with a little less tolerance of other people's opinions, maybe because of getting a little bit more overconfident in my own, which is sometimes what happens when you get built up," Iger told CNBC's David Faber in an exclusive interview. Periodically, we must employ comment moderation due to an influx of spammers. Bob Chapek downplays ABC News' scandals Chapek had apologized multiple times to the LGBTQ community and vowed to suspend all political donations in Florida as a result. That philosophy applies to Disneys park behavior during the pandemic as well. What Is Bob Chapek Political Party? - vimbuzz.com A growing number of participants in the retreat were expressing reluctance with pressing ahead given the climate at the company. Labeledby opponentsas the Dont Say Gay bill, the legislation effectively bans discussion or teaching about the LGBTQ+ community and sexual orientation or gender identity in the states public school system from kindergarten to the third grade.