Disney Sues Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Over Disney World “Retaliation” & Free Speech
The war between the Walt Disney Company and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis just opened up a whole new front in the courts.
After months of battling with the would-be GOP presidential contender and his personally appointed board over jurisdiction and control of Orlando-based Walt Disney World and its now besieged special district status, the House of Mouse today took the white gloves off and sued the Governor in federal court.
“Disney regrets that it has come to this. But having exhausted efforts to seek a resolution, the Company is left with no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials,” the complaint declares.
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In a showdown that has been brewing and boiling as DeSantis’ ambitions have grown, the Bob Iger-run media giant claims that the Sunshine State Governor has enacted a policy of “retaliation” against Disney because of disagreements over moves like his “Don’t Say Gay” law and attacks on the so-called “woke” philosophy of the company.
DeSantis’ office did not immediately respond to request for comment on the lawsuit when contacted by Deadline this morning.
“A targeted campaign of government retaliation—orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech—now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights,” the company said in its lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Florida.
The lawsuit comes after the board of the special district that oversees the company’s Florida resorts moved to invalidate Disney’s development agreements. In the final weeks in which it was effectively controlled by the company, the Reedy Creek Improvement District approved the development agreements with Walt Disney World. That ensured that the company would maintain a great deal of control over its property and the surrounding land even when the governor’s appointees too over.
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