The Walt Disney Company has been dragged into the political campaign sphere despite not actually being able to hold public office.
Disney vs. DeSantis
In early 2023, Disney filed a federal lawsuit against DeSantis and members of the board of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, arguing that Disney’s constitutional rights had been violated. The company has alleged DeSantis waged a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power” against it to punish it for speaking out. But now, DeSantis seems to have “moved on” from the conflict overnight.
In an interview with CNBC on August 15th, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Disney CEO Bob Iger should drop the federal lawsuit filed that accuses the governor of political retaliation. DeSantis said on CNBC’s Last Call, “They’re suing the state of Florida. They’re going to lose that lawsuit.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ©Deadline
He went on to share that if he were to give Iger a call that day he would tell him to “drop the lawsuit” and that Florida “is a great place to do business.” DeSantis then cited Florida’s status as the top economy in a recent survey, referring to the state scoring eighth overall in CNBC’s ranking of America’s Top States for Business in 2023.
“Your competitors all do very well here, Universal, SeaWorld. They have not had the same special privileges as you have,” DeSantis claimed he would say to Iger.
Obtained via ClickOrlando Livestream
According to the Florida Governor, all he wants to do is “treat everybody the same” and “move forward,” continuing that he would be “totally fine with that.” But, DeSantis said he is not fine with giving “extraordinary privileges” to one “special company.”
DeSantis is referring to the former Reedy Creek Improvement District, which he has since taken over and appointed his own members to the renamed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board.
©Central Florida Tourism Oversight District
Back in June, DeSantis and the Board filed their own motions to dismiss the federal lawsuit. He claimed that sovereign immunity and legislative immunity prevented him from being held liable. The Board made some different arguments, including that the case should be stayed until the state court lawsuit that the Board filed against Disney is resolved.
DeSantis claims that one of Disney’s arguments is “fatally imprecise.” Specifically, the Governor argued that he did not “strip Disney of any voting rights” within the District by “appointing anyone; the Legislature did that when it repealed” the Reedy Creek charter.
A Disney spokesperson had previously stated, “We are fully confident Disney will prevail in both the federal and state cases.”
©Apple
We’ll continue to keep an eye on the battle between Disney and DeSantis, so stay tuned to DFB for more.
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DeSatan started it. Now Mickey will finish it. Get over it, Ronnie!
Uh-oh, Ronnie finally realized that he bit off more than he can chew with his fascist approach to everything in Florida. His targeted attack on Disney is a sure loser in court, and he knows it. So little Pudding Fingers tries to save face by asking Disney to “move on”.
Any attorney’s out there to explain where this is going? Is DeSantis “Moving On” because he is campaigning for President and not doing to well? Does this mean “Reedy Creek returning to Disney?
It was political retaliation Ron because your delicate ego has you using government resources to silence and punish those who disagree with you. You won’t move on from this until the courts call you out on it. Florida is a great place to do business, so long as you don’t have opinions.
Isn’t it neat when the good guys win? Wanting to draw attention to yourself in case you make a run for president by taunting one of the most beloved characters on the planet has backfired dramatically. The governor has left the building. I believe I hear cheering!
Interesting that he suddenly has “moved on”. It should be illegal to use taxpayers money to harass business that don’t agree with a “candidate”. Our money needs to be respected and used to support the state. Period.
A great place to do business? 9% inflation against the US 3%. No one to work on farms, clean hotels, upkeep gardens, look after rich people kids or even drive delivery trucks because of his dictatorial racist policies.
Yeah, no. Disney wasn’t dragged into a political campaign sphere. They jumped headlong into it intentionally. I love Disney from start to finish but, please…
Didn’t Disney start this whole thing ? Happy it will be over. Both sides weren’t showing their best.
Just read an article Disney filed another suit against DeSantis board. The Mouse Seems to be pretty mad.