The feud between Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has taken another turn, as Disney issues a response to the governor’s request that their lawsuit against him be dismissed.
Disney vs. DeSantis
Disney is suing Gov. DeSantis, claiming that the governor has waged a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power” against Disney. Last month, DeSantis requested that the lawsuit be dismissed, and now Disney has responded to that request.
DeSantis previously requested that the trial date for this lawsuit take place after the presidential election in 2024, which would prevent the outcome from having an unfavorable effect on his campaign.
©Governor Ron DeSantis Website
According to Deadline, Disney is calling for a trial start date of July 15th, 2024 — before the election. This is also the first day of the Republican National Convention.
DeSantis has also called for the lawsuit to be tossed out altogether, stating that “the Governor […] is entitled to legislative immunity.”
Read more about DeSantis’ motion to dismiss the lawsuit here.
Disney recently responded to this request, stating in their response that “Disney, of course, has been the central target of the Governor’s weaponized State—a retaliatory campaign he launched because, the Governor’s memoir declares, Disney ‘crossed a line’ by expressing the wrong view in a political debate, which he viewed as a ‘textbook example of when a corporation should stay out of politics.'”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ©Deadline
The response also stated, “Laws that ‘stifle speech on account of its message, or that require the utterance of a particular message favored by the Government, contravene[this essential right’ and ‘pose the inherent risk that the Government seeks not to advance a legitimate regulatory goal, but to suppress unpopular ideas or information or manipulate the public debate through coercion rather than persuasion.”
According to Disney’s response, Gov. DeSantis believes that “corporations must remain ‘merely economic actors,’ and when they dare to ‘become political’ and seek to ‘advance a political agenda’ that does not conform to the ruling party’s program, government leaders are free to ‘fight back’ by wielding official state power against disobedient companies until their disfavored views ‘die.’”
Magic Kingdom
Disney stated that the governor “seeks to evade responsibility for his actions”: “This case presents the fundamental question [of] whether the Governor and the State can escape accountability for their open defiance of our Nation’s most cherished liberties.”
To learn more about the feud between Disney and Gov. DeSantis, check out these posts:
- NEWS: Poll Shows What People REALLY Think About Disney-DeSantis Feud
- Federal Judge Disqualifies Himself from Disney Lawsuit Against DeSantis
- Disney Issues Important WARNING About DeSantis Drama
Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on the latest news.
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
In politics, it’s all about timing. Although I doubt the court will accommodate Disney’s request, stranger things have happened. That said, I do hope an earlier date gets approved. DeSantis is out of control. Maybe Florida doesn’t know this, but the rest of the country does.
Funny, he never said Disney should stay out of politics when they were making political contributions *rolls eyes*
I’m surprised there isn’t a lot more lawsuits against him. Also wondering where the DOJ is considering the amount of human rights he is trampling.
…and he does his dirty deeds all in the name of God. Has he forgotten Matthew 22 which states that the second greatest commandment is, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Contrary to that, he only loves those who look, think, and act just like him.
I used to think DeSantis was a great governor but DeSantis is destroying Florida and tourism!! Will Disney now be sending funds to California and concentrate on Disneyland now that it has canceled many of its investment plans for Florida? This will also hurt other businesses and hotels. DeSantis’s appointed Board needs to go, too.