Iger vs. Chapek: Disney CEO's Had Tense Falling Out
Bob Chapek, the current CEO of the Walt Disney Company, has reportedly had a falling out with his predecessor Bob Iger. Chapek, who took over from Iger in February 2020, has had a difficult time in the position as only a month after assuming his new responsibilities, the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed most of Disney's operations and led to losses of almost $1.4 billion. Alongside the issues brought on by the pandemic, Chapek's reign as CEO has also seen a public dispute over salary negotiations with Scarlett Johannsson and a staff walkout over the poor response from company leadership to Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill, both of which harmed the company's public image.
It can't have been easy for Chapek to assume the position, as even without the unforeseen circumstances of the pandemic, he would've been filling some very big shoes. Iger's tenure as CEO was immensely successful and saw the purchase of Pixar, Lucasfilm, Marvel and 20th Century Fox, managing to expand Disney's intellectual properties whilst also resulting in massive box office returns. He was also incredibly popular, taking careful steps to maintain Disney's public image and quickly capitalizing on the possibilities of home streaming services when he oversaw the creation of Disney+.
More: Disney+: Every New Movie & TV Show Coming In April 2022
It seems however, that perhaps Iger's shadow was too large for Chapek to escape, as the two men have reportedly had an unresolved falling out. According to CNBC, a columnist for the New York Times published an email wherein Iger expressed his intention to stay and help Chapek with his duties after the pandemic began to affect the business. This apparently enraged Chapek, who had not expressed any desire for help and saw
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