New Disney CEO Bob Iger returned to his post two weeks ago but told employees at a town hall he wants the company to return to neutral in the culture war:
IGER: “You know, I think there’s a misperception here about what politics is. And I think that some of the subjects that have proven to be controversial, as it relates to Disney have been branded political, and I don’t necessarily believe they are. I don’t think when you’re telling stories and attempting to be a good citizen of the world, that that’s political, just not how I view it. Do I like the company being embroiled in controversy? Of course not. It can be distracting, and it can have a negative impact on the company. And to the extent that I can work to kind of quiet things down, I’m going to do that. But I think it’s — it’s important to put in perspective what some of these subjects are and not just simply brand them political.”
The board of directors ousted former CEO Bob Chepek after a disastrous year that saw him taking on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and losing and literally pushing the “gay agenda.”
Iger admitted it was all a mistake. He wants Disney to listen to its consumers and cast members.
Christopher Rufo obtained a video of the town hall:
In response to an audience question about the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, Iger said the company would still promote “inclusion,” but signaled that he would adopt a different posture than his processor and suggested that the company will “listen to [its] audience” and “have respect for the people that [it’s] serving.”Iger also suggested that the company made a mistake in its fight against Governor DeSantis, which resulted in the state legislature stripping Disney of its special administrative status. “I was sorry to see us dragged into that battle,” he said. “The State of Florida has been important to us for a long time. And we have been very important to the State of Florida. That is something I’m extremely mindful of and will articulate if I get the chance.”Finally, in response to the suggestion that “many cast members had wished that Disney stayed out of politics,” Iger expressed regret. “Do I like the company being embroiled in controversy? Of course not,” he said. “It can be distracting, and it can have a negative impact on the company. And to the extent that I can work to kind of quiet things down, I’m going to do that.”
The criticism towards Disney resurfaced over the weekend when its new movie Strange World bombed, adding more financial troubles for the Mouse.
It’s one of the most ultra-woke productions in recent times:
“Strange World,” which features a gay teen romance involving the main character, an environmental message and no princesses, came in well below projections, grossing $11.9 million over the three-day weekend and $18.6 million over the five-day Thanksgiving holiday.Given the film’s reported $180 million budget, the Hollywood press ripped “Strange World” as not just a dud but a “historic bomb,” as The Wrap put it. Variety projected that the flick could lose as much as $100 million.
The left blames the right’s supposed homophobia and hatred of gays. But Christian Toto wrote the woke storyline is just one of many problems with the film:
“I think you can point to several factors for ‘Strange World’s’ disastrous opening. Let’s start with the title, which is utterly bland. It’s an original story, something that often doesn’t click with audiences weaned on sequels, prequels and reboots,” Mr. Toto said in an email.“The film’s gay storyline got plenty of online attention, and some parents are exhausted by the messaging in modern Disney fare. It’s always hard to pinpoint how much of a factor this proves to be, but it clearly didn’t help at the box office,” he said.
Strange World might find new life when it hits Disney+.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY