Disney CEO Bob Chapek Finally Slams “Don’t Say Gay” Bill, Says Tried To Work “Behind The Scenes,” Will Donate $5M, Meet With Fla. Governor Ron DeSantis

Walt Disney CEO Bob Chapek finally came out swinging against Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, telling shareholders at the annual meeting today that the company had always opposed it but opted to work behind the scenes to try to influence lawmakers.

That has appeared to be unsuccessful. “I understand our political approach, no matter how well intentioned, didn’t quite get the job done,” the chief executive said. He said Disney is signing a petition against such bills across the country and donating $5 million for work to protect the LGBTQ+ community. Chapek also said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has agreed to meet with him and some of the company’s LGBTQ+ employees in Florida. “I look forward to visiting with the governor with a small delegation of cast members who are involved in this movement.”

The bill would effectively ban discussion of the LGBTQ+ community and “sexual orientation or gender identity” in the state’s public schools from kindergarten to 3rd grade. Chapek’s silence on the legislation was deafening and a statement earlier this week drew condemnation in and outside the company with its promise to hold “a more fulsome conversation about this” at a company-wide summit planned for April, — by which time the proposal may well have been signed into law by DeSantis.

Chapek made his comments in a bit of a fake-out, not at the top of show but after he’d finished lengthy prepared remarks with no mention of the controversy, and after Disney’s general counsel invited shareholders with questions to queue up electronically at the virtual meeting. “I’d like to take moment to address some concerns I’ve heard from many about the legislation impacting the LGTQ+ community in Florida,” he said.

“While we have been strong supporters of the community for decades, I know that many are upset that we did not speak out against the bill. We were opposed to the bill from the outset, but we chose not to take a public position on it because we felt we could be more effective working behind the scenes, engaging directly with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. And we were hoping that our longstanding relationships with those lawmakers would enable us to achieve a better outcome. But, despite weeks of effort, we were ultimately unsuccessful.”

Chapek said, “I called Governor DeSantis this morning to express our disappointment and concern that if the legislation becomes law it could be used to target [LGBTQ+) kids and families. The governor heard our concerns. He agreed to meet with me and LGBTQ+ members of our senior team in Florida to discuss ways to address that.

MORE to come…

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Disney CEO Finally Slams “Don’t Say Gay” Bill; Will Meet With Gov. Ron DeSantis

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