Disney CEO Iger calls DeSantis retaliation ‘anti-business’

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The Walt Disney Company (DIS.N) Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger on Monday took a legislative stance against Republican Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida. He called his apparent retaliation against Disney “anti-business.” “

After initially trying to remain neutral, Disney went against Florida’s parental rights in education law. It has been called a “don’t say gay” bill by opponents and limits discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom.

Soon after, DeSantis and the Florida legislature moved to abolish the de facto autonomy the company enjoyed on the 24,000-acre (9,712-hectare) lot surrounding the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.

Responding to questions at the company’s annual shareholder meeting, Iger said Disney may have handled its position on the bill poorly, but added that the company has the right to express its opinion. He said it seems like DeSantis “decided to retaliate against us.”

“Trying to punish companies for exercising their constitutional rights seems really wrong to me,” Iger said.

He also said Disney employs 75,000 people in the state and will welcome 50 million visitors to Disney World this year. Iger said Disney plans to deepen its investment in Florida by spending $17 billion over the next 10 years and creating 13,000 jobs for him.

“These efforts to simply retaliate for the position taken by the company not only sound anti-business, they sound anti-Florida,” Iger said.

In February, Florida legislators backed a bill that would allow DeSantis to effectively control the committee that oversees the development of special tax districts. I have appointed five supervisors to oversee the places where I have been doing business.

Prior to its acquisition by DeSantis’ appointees, Disney had been pushing changes to limit the actions of its board of directors for decades. On Monday, DeSantis asked the Florida Inspector General to investigate what he described as a last-minute attempt by Disney and the outgoing board to “disenfranchise” the new board.

In a letter seen by Reuters, DeSantis said, “These complicit and self-serving arrangements nullify recently passed laws, undermine Florida’s legislative process, and push against the will of the people of Florida.” It aims.

At Disney’s shareholder meeting, one of the attendees said the company had evolved from “a magical place for children” to “an ideological company serving the LGBTQ community” promoting an “awakened agenda”.

Iger said he was sensitive to the criticism.

“Our main mission is to entertain people and have a positive impact on the world,” he said. “I’m very serious about it. It shouldn’t be agenda-driven.”

Iger said he recognizes that “every parent has a different comfort level” with Disney’s content, adding, “We are committed to providing age-appropriate content to our family audience while , tells stories that reflect the world around us and foster greater understanding.” , greater perspective, greater acceptance of all people. “

Disney shareholders backed 11 candidates, including chairman Iger and Mark Parker, executive chairman of Nike (NKE.N) and former CEO to replace former Disney chairman Susan Arnold.

Shareholders rejected proposals to provide Disney with annual reports on raw materials, finished goods, theme park revenues, and dependence on China for labor.

They also turned down shareholder proposals asking the company to provide more information about charitable donations.

Reported by Lisa Richwine.Editing by Jonathan Ortiz and Bill Barclot

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