After the 'don’t say gay’ dispute, Disney sues Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for controlling its theme parks
It seems House Mouse and the Governor of Florida are locked in a battle royale. In one corner we have Disney, a multi-billion dollar entertainment behemoth, and in the other corner we have Ron DeSantis, a Republican politician who's been making waves with his controversial policies. It's a clash of the titans, and it's all playing out in the sunshine state.
Walt Disney Co has sued Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis over state efforts to control the company's Walt Disney World theme parks in Orlando. The company claims that DeSantis has threatened its business and violated its constitutional rights with his steps to assert control over its operations. Disney requested the court to undo these moves.
The company's lawsuit was filed in a federal court in Florida, and it escalates the battle between the entertainment giant and the Republican politician. The two sides have been fighting since Disney criticised a state law that bans discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in primary schools. DeSantis's steps to assert control over Disney's operations allegedly stem from this dispute.
Here’s the 2022 moment I FORCED a very sweaty Randy Fine to admit that his bill was targeted retaliation against Disney for opposing ‘Don’t Say Gay’.
— Carlos Guillermo Smith (@CarlosGSmith) April 26, 2023
Now Disney is SUING Ron DeSantis and using these exact words against them.
YOU. ARE. WELCOME. 😎💅 pic.twitter.com/hHZkUYEL5n
Since then, DeSantis has been on a mission to clip Disney's wings, and he's been pulling out all the stops. First, he appointed an oversight board to oversee development in and around Walt Disney World, and then he voided a development deal involving the firm's Florida theme park. But Disney isn't taking this lying down; it's suing DeSantis, asking a court to overturn the state's efforts to exert control over its operations.
It's a messy situation, and it's putting DeSantis in the spotlight. He's widely seen as a potential Republican candidate for President, but his fight with Disney has sparked criticism from some Republicans, since the fight with Disney has appeared at odds with traditional conservative views against government interference with business rights. This dispute will likely have far-reaching consequences for the relationship between business and government in Florida.
here's Ron DeSantis in South Carolina saying "woke" 7 times in 20 seconds pic.twitter.com/pzVI58LR8T
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 19, 2023
Even former President Donald Trump, who DeSantis may challenge for the Republican nomination, has weighed in, saying the Governor has been "outplayed, outsmarted, and embarrassed by Mickey Mouse." Ouch.
Disney stated that the lawsuit is necessary to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing an unpopular political viewpoint.
But this isn't just about politics; it's also about business. Disney is one of the state's biggest employers, and the company plans to invest $17 billion at Walt Disney World over the next decade. It's not keen on having that investment nullified or undermined at the whim of new political leadership. Other firms are likely watching this dispute closely, wondering if they'll face the same kind of interference from the state if they try to invest in Florida.
DeSantis is an absolute moron. Wth bobblehead Ron! pic.twitter.com/3Qg9ioKOoS
— Laura (@pinkykisses) April 24, 2023
The lawsuit notes that development and investment of this magnitude cannot effectively take place when it can be nullified or undermined at the whim of new political leadership. The company's lawsuit also claims that the approval of the latest development deal came with proper public notice, including in a local newspaper.
This battle between Disney and DeSantis is a spectacle worth watching and it's all playing out on the grandest of stages possible: Florida.