CEO Bob Chapek Arranges Meeting with LGBT+ Disney Officials and Governor’s Office Amid Backlash
The Walt Disney Company’s CEO Bob Chapek told shareholders he expressed his “disappointment” to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis regarding the recent passage of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. During a live-streamed event, Mr. Chapek explained that Disney had opposed the bill from the beginning, though the company had chosen to engage with lawmakers behind the scenes rather than issuing a public statement. Disney believed working quietly with representatives from both parties would yield a more effective result, he said.
Despite ongoing efforts, Chapek acknowledged that their behind-the-scenes strategy did not prevent the bill’s narrow approval in Florida’s Senate. He has since arranged a meeting involving representatives from Disney’s LGBT+ community and the governor’s office to address concerns raised by the legislation, which restricts classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in primary schools. The move follows increasing pressure from Disney employees and the public, who urge the company to take a stronger stand on issues affecting the LGBT+ community.