Disney has been recently criticized by fans for its “woke agenda” within the newest movies and shows.
©The Walt Disney Company
Critics have said Disney has crossed boundaries when it comes to topics in movies and that the company has strayed from its original vision of creating classic and beloved stories. Since his return, CEO Bob Iger has had a few comments on these criticisms including a new statement at the New York Times Dealbook Conference.
Many parents and fans have stated that Disney’s latest movies and TV shows have been pushing an “agenda” and discussing content they would prefer to stay out of their children’s movies. Oftentimes, Disney has been criticized for its messages on LGBTQIA+ and gender identity, along with other topics.
©Disney | Pixar
These comments also stem back to the Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vs. Disney disputes when Disney stood against Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Bill (what critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” bill). Iger, who was not CEO when the drama began, backed the company stating, “A company has a right to freedom of speech just like individuals do.”
Iger has also previously stated that “[He] want[s] parents to be able to trust the content that we’re creating for their children,” adding that Disney is ““committed to delivering age-appropriate content for family audiences while also telling stories that reflect the world around us and that foster greater understanding, greater perspective, greater acceptance of all people.”
Asha from the new movie ‘Wish’
Now, according to Alex Sherman with CNBC, at the New York Times Dealbook Conference on November 29th, Iger shared more about any potential company agenda. He stated that the creators at Disney had “lost sight” of what their jobs should be — that it should be to “entertain first” and not be about “messages.” He said the messages that were being pushed got worse when he left as CEO. And, in a recent town hall meeting, he shared that since his return he has been busy “fixing” things around the company.
Iger says creators at Disney have lost sight of what their jobs should be — 1) entertain first. It's not about messages.
He says it got worse when he left as CEO/Chairman.
— Alex Sherman (@sherman4949) November 29, 2023
Iger also shared at the town hall meeting that he is excited to “build again” and that “there are many more stories yet to tell.” He’s ready to share more original stories to entertain not “pushing an agenda.” We’ll see if this statement, which comes after an unsuccessful opening week for Wish, will make any changes in the future movies and shows we see from Disney.
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I really do not care what people are into. There are billions of folks and are all going to have different backgrounds and interests. The “deliverying of messages” in movies and shows has gotten to the point where it distracting to the movie/shoe. People watch these things to fantasized and escape from the day to day life.
Kids are not born with prejudices. Those are things developed over time from exposure.
Good then someone else can meet with spectrum an others an make a deal an give us the channels he wouldn’t make a deal we want our channeis back just that one I have others I need just one channel NatGeoWild please let someone else make a deal. Oh Bob can’t do anything good. It’s all gonna all be run to the ground.
This, if true, is a great step toward returning Disney to Greatness. I say again to the Creators, watch the Disney ad during the 2023 Super Bowl and learn what made Disney the powerhouse it was.
My brother in law was no fan of anything Disney, and now he has a sleeve of characters on his arm.
Why? Coco.
He’s from Mexico City and for once, he was seen and represented.
Just because he says entertain first doesn’t mean they are going to drop having representation of the LGBT and climate change or whatever these “Disney purest” are crying about. If you were fine having the princess find love with her prince, you should be fine when the princess finds love with her princess too. They are just going to make it more about the adventure getting there now.
Children, and adults, should see themselves represented in Disney movies and characters. Those who do not understand are blinded by bias and are only focused on protecting the status quo because it is comfortable for them.
Does that mean that all of the movies in which Disney was trying to be more inclusive are great? No. But they should never give up on this goal.
Seeing yourself represented gives a feeling of belonging that everyone deserves and too many of us take for granted.
In a different direction: if the “woke” agenda is to be scrapped, please bring back foie gras and lobster at the Disney World Restaurants.
That statement is extremely sad that Bob Igor made. He’s only been gone a few years, these projects are all developed YEARS in advance. Last I heard the CEO signs off on every single project so they get that big payday they feel they so rightly deserve. Nothing like throwing employees under the bus. #greatjobBob
Just enough with the Princess movies and sci-fi rip-off. Get back to kid’s tales without agendas, right or left. (May all retire the tired, silly “woke” appellation once and for ALL.)
I don’t subscribe to Disney + because it’s really Marvel/SW/ESPN minus. Saw a promo for Disney + the other day that mentioned not ONE REAL Disney character. ONLY SW, Marvel and post-2000 material.
Get back to looking like the Walt Disney Company, not Lucasfilm or Marvel. What about a cartoon feature starring the original Disney crew: Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy and even Pet the Villain.
REAL DISNEY CHARACTERS. Please.
I am sorry to hear this. I know it’s better for their bottom line but it was nice to see representation. What the world actually looks like and still the stories were beautiful. Representation matters. I’ve always loved Disney and when my daughter could see herself as someone in a newer animated movie it was magical. I don’t see it as an agenda…they are just new stories with new characters.
Just to reply to what John said. Representation and messaging are two different things, representation can still be original and very entertaining, messaging seems to have fallen into the trap of re-imagining existing stories and characters that at this point in time is probably getting a bit tiring for the audience. Most consumers of entertainment just want that … to be entertained and the originality at not just Disney but many other media companies has been low for some time now.
Inclusion of non-hetro, non-white characters is hardly pushing an agenda, it’s a reflection of how the world is truly made up.
Love that movies will be priority 1- entertainment and not priority 1- political agendas.
Diversity with authenticity can make for a great movie. Look at Coco, Moana, and Encanto, as examples. The diversity in those movies was germaine to the story, as different (than American) cultures where highlighted. Authenticity is key, along with a good, well written story. I don’t care what adults do on their own time but LBBTQ advocacy in children’s entertainment is a bridge to far. Leave our kids and grandchildren out of this. Let them be kids and grow and discover who they are, on their own, in their own time.
Yeah, but here’s the deal: some of those kids ARE LGBTQIA+, or they have friends or family who are, and they live in a society where these people exist. So why hide the truth? The result of that is that they are left to feel alone and unrepresented (have you looked at the suicide rates?).
Thinking that this is just a “private adult issue” is a huge part of the problem.
I used to love Disney. I have all the old movies on video. I think having stories about different races are good, but in the right stories. Like coco, Moana and Encanto. Making Snow White not white is stupid. The Little Mermaid is Nordic not black. What I object is trying to sexualize children’s shows. Can’t we just let children be children. Their innocence is gone fast enough. Let them be children. I am sad that I used to love Disney. Now it just disgust me.