11. Disney CEO Chapek Bob Chapek Tuesday said he doesnt really see Disney as characterizing itself as left-leaning or right-leaning responding to a shareholder who accused Hollywood and the company of a double standard in firing Gina Carano from The Mandalorian because shes a conservative. He knew how to grow the business while adjusting to the changing marketplace, which was intense." He has a microbiology degree from Indiana University Bloomington and received his MBA from Michigan State University. Bob Chapek downplays ABC News' scandals It sounds about right. Thats not even a dig on Chapek. Bob Chapek Chapek has been overseeing the company's parks, experiences and products division since those divisions were combined in 2018. Ron DeSantis, who accused the company of being woke a day earlier for opposing the bill. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Everyone struggles with adversity. Chapek is far less publicly political than his predecessor, who once considered a run for the Democratic nomination for president. The controversial Project Veritas is the same group that published footage of ABC anchor Amy Robach claiming ABC News executives killeda story that would have exposed the now-deceased sex offenderJeffrey Epsteinthree years ago. CEO Denies Political Leanings Following Gina Carano (Gerardo Mora / Getty Images). The nearly century-old company has been dragged for becoming too politically correct, famously clashing with Republican Bob Chapek or redistributed. Feature Image: Marc Piasecki/Getty Images, Tags: Bob ChapekBob IgerChapekDisneyLake NonaThe Walt Disney Company. John Oliver Calls Bob Chapeks Explanation For Disney Donations To Dont Say Gay Politicians Actively Insulting. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Disney CEO Denies Political Leanings Following Gina Carano Firing During annual shareholder call, CEO Bob Chapek maintains the media giant isnt left leaning or right leaning, but instead stands for the universal values of respect, decency, integrity, and inclusion. Disney shareholder tells CEO Chapek to stop wasting money on Disney chief executive Bob Chapek speaks during a ceremony on Sept. 11, 2015, at Hong Kong Disneyland. Would love your thoughts, please comment. FAQ - New Privacy Policy, New York Posts Karol Markowicz discusses how Disney is pushing back against Floridas parental rights bill and how she is quitting the park on Fox Business Tonight.. Political Party Stances; 51% : Florida Gov. Carano last month raised the issue of a double standard in an interview with conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, noting that Pascal was not fired for a 2018 tweet comparing undocumented children in cages in the U.S. to Jews in concentration camps. New Disney CEO Bob Chapek was confronted by an investor about ongoing issues at ABC News on Wednesday, but the high-powered executive brushed off the criticism, and the investor then blasted him for having his "head in the sand when it comes to the pervasive anti-conservative bias across ABC News.". "I became a little bit more dismissive of other people's opinions than I should have been," said Iger. Disney did not return requests for comment. Now, of course, taking By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. Iger and the Disney board's decision to give Chapek the job surprised Wall Street and Disney executives, especially after Iger had repeatedly pushed off his retirement to stay as Disney's CEO. DeSantis cements takeover of Disney's special Florida district, Colleagues perceive former CEO Bob Iger as a highly political person with an acute mind for such situations. Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient. Copyright 2021, Launchpad Digital Network, LLC. Chapek cared too much about his needs and not enough about those of others. Analytics cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages. Bob Chapek "Floridas HB 1557, also known as the Dont Say Gay bill, should never have passed and should never have been signed into law," the Disney statement said. Disney chief executive Bob Chapek speaks during a ceremony on Sept. 11, 2015, at Hong Kong Disneyland. Robert Chapek - $11,106 in Political Contributions for 2016 You can look at the comments section for any Disney discussion, and its an inevitable statement from some. All Rights Reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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Disney allowed the drill team to perform based on an audition tape it had sent. He will be the seventh CEO in Disney's nearly 100-year history. He agreed that the company should stand up more for the LGBTQ+ community in pursuit of more meaningful and lasting change. Ron DeSantis speaks at a press conference at the Eau Gallie High School aviation hangar on March 22, 2021. Management has altered some aspects of the Disney vacation experience as a tactic to overcome the unprecedented challenges of March 2020 through today. So, Disney had to do many of these things, and I would agree with you. Chapeks initial responses to the bill were tepid at best, as he wanted to maintain solid relationships with the legislators. VIDEO 3:58 03:58. The thought process here stems from the high cost of real estate in California relative to Florida. Disney suspends political contributions in Florida as CEO Pixar deal completed to show Disney employees it was a new day, says former CEO Bob Iger, Disney's Bob Iger: Leaving during Covid was unfortunate timing, Charley Gallay | Getty Images; Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images, App-based entertainment is replacing linear channels like traditional media, says fmr. In "The Courage to Be Free," the governor describes a conversation with former CEO Bob Chapek about Disney's political activities. pic.twitter.com/OWsGTUoeCA, Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) March 29, 2022, SCOOP: Ive obtained video from inside Disneys all-hands meeting about the Florida parental rights bill, in which executive producer Latoya Raveneau says her team has implemented a not-at-all-secret gay agenda and is regularly adding queerness to childrens programming. The award winning agents at MickeyTravels are ready to help you book a truly magical vacation! While Chapek was positive and largely avoided Danhofs criticism, his comment that Wrights objectivity is questionable coincides with the networks decision to suspend the veteran reporter. A Complete Timeline of the Battle Between Gov. Ron DeSantis and Disney CEO Bob Chapek gets close to GOP lawmakers ahead of Timing 'surprising' says senior analyst on Bob Iger stepping down. That explains the inconsistency. If you dont see your language, email sara@independentsentinel.com we will add it. Send us a tip using our annonymous form. 2023 CNBC LLC. Dave Filoni Answers, Relieve the Battle of Hoth With This Star Wars Mystery Pin Set, Dining / Disney California Adventure / Disneyland, Must-Try Menu Items at Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival. At first, Chapek tried to remain on the sidelines, but LGBTQ employees and advocates pressured the exec to take a stand last March, asserting that the bill was a human rights issue. You needed me to be a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights and I let you down. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. In that scenario, someone less experienced with vetting is in charge. Chapek Chapek is a liar. March 7th, 2022 Then-Disney CEO Bob Chapek comments further on the matter via an internal Disney memo. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Chapek is credited for bringing Disney's home entertainment division into the digital ag ", WATCH: Disney's Bob Iger turns CEO job to Chapek. Chapek walked back his previous statement to employees that the company could fight against bigotry through its creative content, saying Disney needed to be standing up for the rights of all.. Bob Chapek - Wikipedia All rights reserved. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Disney has since stated it will no longer donate to political campaigns. Of course, nobody does that unless they understand political machinations. The original town hall event was announced on March 2, and then on Friday was moved to today so people could attend Tuesdays walkout if they so chose. Questionable decision-making and actions by Disney post-covid may be why a petition to fire Bob Chapek has been brought to fruition. Change isn't necessarily bad.". Bob Iger, the former Disney CEO whose decades-long tenure at the company ended in December, tweeted his opposition to the legislation weeks ago. "Mr. Chapek seems content to stick his head in the sand when it comes to the pervasive anti-conservative bias across ABC News, just as his predecessor Mr. Iger always was. Chapek responded by saying that his very first trip after being named the new CEO was to visit ABC News. REUTERS. Madison addressed The Walt Disney Companys latest pledge during the LGBTQ advocacy groups annual Los Angeles dinner, held Saturday night at the JW Marriott LA Live Hotel. As a new CEO, he was easily victimized. Were all familiar with the maxim that the sum is greater than the parts. Keating, who has written about how Disney's activism is bad for business, said Disney's decisions on the Florida bill has meant the company is catching heat from both sides of the political spectrum. The email came two days after the companys annual shareholder meeting, during which Chapek explained that the company had long opposed the Florida bill but opted to work behind the scenes rather than make a public statement. Bob Chapek was tapped on Tuesday to succeed long-time Disney CEO Bob Iger. Bob Chapek Earlier in the week, Chapek said DeSantis had agreed to meet with him to ensure the bill wouldnt be weaponized against the LGBTQ community. This year, Mr. Chapek contended with one crisis after another, some of his own making. He states his positions situationally for his personal profit. But Chapek stayed positive and dismissed the other criticism, saying ABC News has a stellar track record of being objective and reporting the news and will continue to do so in the future., ABC NEW SUSPENDS MATT GUTMAN FOR FALSELY REPORTING ALL OF KOBE BRYANT'S CHILDREN WERE ON DOOMED HELICOPTER, "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss," Danhof told Fox News following the meeting, referencing a famous The Who lyric. All of the companys three major content suppliers Marvel, Pixar and Lucasfilm have been publicly critical of the companys handling of the situation. (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via / Getty Images). TV. He said the company was increasing support for advocacy Legal Statement. Bob Chapek Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. A rep for ABC News toldFox News he would be reassigned after serving his suspension and an insider said he was hoodwinked into making the statements oncamera. Iger also discussed his strategy around buying animation studio Pixar, comic book and action hero company Marvel Entertainment, and Lucasfilm, home of Star Wars. I truly believe we are an infinitely better and stronger company because of our LGBTQ+ community, he wrote. DeSantis signs bill stripping The Human Rights Campaign echoed Pixar staff on the political contributions issue and said it wouldnt accept the donation, putting egg on Disneys face. Shares of the company fell less than 2% in extending trading Tuesday. Heinz, and in advertising at J. Walter Thompson. Market data provided by Factset. Michael Arnold. Disneys decision to fold under the pressure of the lying-Left is disappointing.. Some folks took offense at that, which isdefinitely a take. Bob Chapek Prior to working at the parks, Chapek led Disney's home entertainment business starting in 2009 and led the organization to record-setting performances. Iger, 69, will remain with the company through 2021 to handle Disney's content initiatives such as Disney+, with the expectation that Chapek will eventually take control of all roles. Many of the workers who have agreed to go to Florida remain in California for the time being. Conversely, Chapek believes that his best approach is to avoid politics altogether, a legitimate impossibility for a company like Disney. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. In short, this debacle was totally avoidable. REUTERS. WebBob Chapek. As you might imagine, some of them are LGBTQ+ or friends/family members of those who are. Still, DeSantis has continued to claim that Chapeks opposition is only because he hadnt bothered to read the bill, according to a DeSantis campaign email sent Thursday. Unclassified cookies are cookies that we are in the process of classifying, together with the providers of individual cookies. He also played a key role in the commercialization of the studio's film business. The Parental Rights in Education bill has passed the Florida Legislature and awaits the signature of Gov. bob chapek political party Chapek is almost childlike by comparison. All Rights Reserved. Disney CEO Bob Chapek Announces Pause for Political Giving in In his book, the Florida governor says the Disney sagas lesson is that in an environment of woke capital where large companies employ their influence to advance left-wing political agendas, old-guard corporate Republicanism is not up to the task at hand.. ), The HRC president went on to say that companies need to deliver more than inclusive employment policies and a clever Pride campaign and that corporate values should be guiding principles in how a company shows up for the marginalized, instead of being marketing materials., I promise you, states lucrative tax laws wont matter much to your employees and consumers who are being criminalized for supporting their kids and being pushed back in the closet by the legal system, she said. During the town hall, Chapek repeated his expression of regret about the companys decision not to take a public stance against the bill, given the large number of its employees it affected. Disney CEO Bob Chapek Says No Political Bias In Gina Carano Bob Chapek The tech companies and entertainment companies here who have an influential presence across the country and around the world have an important role to play in fighting state-sanctioned discrimination wherever it exists., Madison said the country is at a tipping point, similar to the 2016 HB2 anti-trans bathroom legislation, or the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, in North Carolina and pointed to how companies that refused to expand business in the state, they pulled out of conferences, they canceled events impacted the fate of that bill. ABC NEWS' AMY ROBACH CAUGHT ON HOT MIC SAYING NETWORK SPIKED HER EPSTEIN BOMBSHELL, Danhof asked Chapek directly, What steps can you take to return objectivity to ABC and when can we expect to see balanced coverage return?. Bob Chapek In "The Courage to Be Free," the governor describes a conversation with former CEO Bob Chapek about Disney's political activities. Bob Disney CEO Bob Iger, Here are Disney's major milestones under Bob Iger's leadership, Iger had repeatedly pushed off his retirement. In a second memo to Disney workers, Chapek said Disney was suspending all political donations in Florida. ABC NEWS SUSPENDS DAVID WRIGHT FOR REMARKS MADE IN PROJECT VERITAS VIDEO. "Look, the world is changing dramatically, and it's important for the CEO of a company to address all of those changes rapidly," Iger said. Bob Chapek However, one of them provedregrettable. Bob Chapek was initially silent on Floridas controversial bill barring discussions of gender identity in school classrooms. In addition to addressing Disney directly, Madison also acknowledged that the issue is much larger than the single company. Iger acknowledged Chapek likely won't make the same decisions he would have made as future problems arise. On Monday, Disney and CEO Bob Chapek sent an internal memo following reports that the company had donated thousands of dollars to Florida representatives that supported and voted for the Parental Rights in Education bill. A 27-year veteran of the Walt Disney Company, Chapek, 60, has a proven track record with consumers having been instrumental in the growth of the company's parks, consumer products and studio film businesses. Disney to Pause Florida Political Donations Amid Dont Say Gay Employees were walking out in protest and ranting to the media. Chapek allegedly told him he didnt want to get involved but hadnt seen anything like it, but thats not what he said in public. News Analysis. Thats what has happened, though. We want to hear from you. Political Party Stances; 51% : Florida Gov. Bob Chapek Political Party The Shanghai and Hong Kong Disney parks have been shuttered until the outbreak can be contained and there are concerns from analysts that upcoming Disney film releases like "Mulan" could be disrupted because cinemas are currently closed in China. But, thus far, theyve had no impact on the bottom line, as Disney just claimed its second-best park performance ever for a fiscal quarter. November 21, 2022 by Mary Bob Chapek was born Robert Alan Chapek on August 21, 1960, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. He will be the seventh CEO in Disney's nearly 100-year history. Ousted Disney chief executive Bob Chapek is set to receive a hefty paycheck following his exit. DeSantis published the conversation with Chapek in his memoir, The Courage to be Free: Floridas Blueprint for American Revival, shared with Fox News Digital. Labeledby opponentsas the Dont Say Gay bill, the legislation effectively bans discussion or teaching about the LGBTQ+ community and sexual orientation or gender identity in the states public school system from kindergarten to the third grade. It would allow parents to sue school districts for what it perceives to be violations of this law. Legal Statement. So, Disney purchased nearly 60 acres of land in Lake Nona, Florida. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) of The Walt Disney Company from 2020 to 2022. The pressure from the WOKE cancel culture was vicious. Iger said he had to convince founders that he wouldn't disappoint them after completing an acquisition. And if that doesnt happen, to get these bills repealed, she added.