Disney CEO apologizes to LGBTQ employees, halts political donations in Florida
Disney CEO Bob Chapek apologized to LGBTQ employees over the company’s response on Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, Variety reported Friday. Over the past week, Disney has been criticized for taking a neutral stance toward the controversial bill in emails with employees and for making political donations to the bill’s supporters. Prominent Disney creators, like The Owl House creator Dana Terrace, and the Animation Guild released statements condemning Disney’s inaction. Disney’s employees, too, criticized the company internally.
“It is clear that this is not just an issue about a bill in Florida, but instead yet another challenge to basic human rights,” Chapek said in an email published by Variety. “You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down. I am sorry.”
An internal memo from Chapek reported on on Monday said the company would “unequivocally” support its LGBTQ employees after the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill passed the Florida House of Representatives. The legislation, which is called the Parental Rights in Education bill, aims to prohibit instruction “by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity” before fourth grade “or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.”
On Wednesday, Chapek said he had called Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to “express [Disney’s] disappointment and concern that if legislation becomes law it could be used to unfairly target gay, lesbian, nonbinary, and transgender kids and families.” During an investor’s call on Wednesday, Chapek expressed dismay over the bill, saying that Gov. DeSantis was open to “conversation” and had committed to him
Read more on polygon.com
