Tag: Disney

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GOP Ron DeSantis

Florida’s GOP Senators Have Had Quite Enough Of Ron DeSantis’ War On Disney

It’s been another bad week for Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who saw the Walt Disney Company announce it would be canceling its plans to build a $1 billion office complex in Lake Nona, Florida that would have meant 2,000 new jobs in the Sunshine State.

Asked if Disney’s plans would cause him to rethink his ongoing war with the company, DeSantis remarked, “They can do whatever they want . . . the chance of us backing down from that is zero.”

Not everyone in Florida agrees with DeSantis’ selfish attacks on Disney, which first drew his ire when they opposed his “Don’t Say Gay” legislation which forbids any discussion of gender or sexual identity, even if such conversations are begun by high school students or involve the possible formation of support groups for LGBTQ students at public schools.

Among the voices publicly disagreeing with DeSantis are its two GOP senators, Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, according to Newsweek.

Scott had this to say:

“This is the biggest or second-biggest employer in the state. Half the tourism that comes to our state comes to visit Disney. It’s a reason people come to our state. After they come there, people move there. So I think cooler heads need to prevail. My view is we have to do everything to help our businesses grow.”

And a month ago, Rubio weighed in during an interview on Fox:

“I think where it gets problematic in the eyes of some people is when you start creating the idea—and I’m not saying we’re there yet as a state—but the idea that somehow if you run crossways with us politically, whoever’s in charge, then you may wind up in the crosshairs of the legislature for political purposes to make a statement at you.”

Of course, the real reason for DeSantis being so eager to attack Disney is purely political. He wants to position himself to the right of failed former president Donald Trump on social issues in the hope of appealing to Republican primary voters who will choose the 2024 GOP presidential nominee, even if his selfish attacks on Disney wind up costing his state economically. That alone proves that he’s unfit for any public office, and suggests his message to voters will be one of anger and division, which may sell in the primaries but will make him unelectable come November of 2024.

 

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Business Elections GOP Ron DeSantis

Florida Loses 2,000 Jobs After Disney Pulls $1 Billion Development Project From The State

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) loves to say that if he becomes president, he’ll run the country much the way he runs the Sunshine State.

If that’s true, news today from the Walt Disney Company suggests the United States would be in a deep recession within six months of DeSantis taking the oath of office.

According to CNBC and The New York Times, Disney has scrapped plans to open a new employee campus in Lake Nona, Florida, a decision that will cost the state 2,000 jobs and over $1 billion in potential profits.

Citing “changing business conditions” and the return of CEO Bob Iger, Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney’s parks, experiences and products division, penned a memo to employees Thursday, announcing that the company will not move forward with construction of the campus and will no longer be asking more than 2,000 California-based employees to relocate to Florida.

“This was not an easy decision to make, but I believe it is the right one,” D’Amaro told employees.

The decision by Disney is the latest sparring between the company and DeSantis, who has targeted the multinational corporation simply because it dared to publicly disagree with his anti-LGBTQ law — “Don’t Say Gay” — that limits the discussion of gender identity or sexual orientation in Florida classrooms, even if the topic is raised by students.

Disney has also filed suit against the state for targeting its special Reedy Creek Improvement District, which allowed the company to operate virtually independent of any government intrusion.

DeSantis is expected to announce his bid for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination sometime next week.

 

Categories
Business GOP

DeSantis Says He May Build A Prison Next To Walt Disney World In Orlando

Proving yet again that he’s an immature and insecure manbaby, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is now threatening to build a prison next to Walt Disney World in Orlando as payback for Disney daring to oppose his draconian “Don’t Say Gay” law.

Speaking at a press conference Monday, DeSantis said that Republicans in the Florida legislature are working to introduce legislation that would overturn Disney’s control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District where the amusement park is located. The governor has been actively trying to strip Disney World of its current right to self-governance.

What might the governor do if and when he gains power over Disney and Reedy Creek? To that question, DeSantis responded, “So if you look at this whole special district, well, Disney Corporation obviously owns a lot of it, but the district owns other land. And you know, quite frankly, I wasn’t even thinking about that land.”

The led DeSantis to add:

“Oh, but come to think of it, now people are like, well, what should we do with this land?” he continued. “And so, you know, it’s like, okay, kids, I mean, people have said, you know, maybe, maybe have another, maybe create a state park, maybe try to do more amusement parks.”

Then came mention of building a prison next door to Disney World.

“Someone even said, like, maybe you need another state prison. Who knows? I mean, I just think that the possibilities are endless.”

That led to an outpouring of anger on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/snowmanomics/status/1648018881569497113?s=20

Categories
LGBT Issues Ron DeSantis

Disney Trolls Ron DeSantis With New LGBTQ ‘Pride’ Merchandise For Kids

When it comes to merchandising and knowing what fans want, Disney is second to none. Their branding is among the best in the world, and their souvenir T-shirts, caps, pajamas, tennis shoes, and even diapers are consistently among the hottest sellers in the world.

And now Disney is branching out with their merchandise in a way that’s certain to earn them millions more devoted followers (and dollars) while at the same time serving as a masterful trolling effort aimed squarely at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and his controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill which passed the state legislature and was signed into law in late March.

On the Disney website, there’s an announcement about the new Disney Pride Collection:

The Disney Pride Collection was created by LGBTQIA+ employees and allies at The Walt Disney Company and is a reflection of their incredible contributions and place at the heart of the company. We stand in solidarity with our LGBTQIA+ community everywhere.

The Walt Disney Company will be donating all of our profits from the Disney Pride Collection sales now through June 30, 2022 to organizations that support LGBTQIA+ youth and families. This includes sales of Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars Pride Collection merchandise.

Lisa Becket, senior vice president of global marketing for Disney Parks, had this to say about the new Disney Pride collection:

“Honoring Pride is a long-standing tradition of The Walt Disney Company, and I am incredibly proud to work for a company that supports inclusion as a core value and provides a welcoming environment which allows me to bring my true authentic self to work. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and a longstanding Disney cast member … I greatly appreciate the consistent opportunity for my voice to be heard.”

What do DeSantis and his minions in the Florida GOP have to show for their efforts? Nothing but months of bad PR and fading poll numbers for the governor, who is facing a very uncertain reelection bid in November.

Looks like Mickey Mouse just got the last laugh yet again.

 

Categories
GOP LGBT Issues U.S. Senate

Ted Cruz Says Disney Will Soon Have Cartoons Of ‘Mickey And Pluto Going At It’ In The Bedroom

It’s a given that Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz is a human hemorrhoid who just so happens to wear a suit and tie and grow a grubby looking beard that seems more suitable on a serial killer or perverted neighbor who likes to steal women’s underwear off the nearest clothesline.

But now we know what a sick, twisted, and downright demented excuse of a person Cruz is as a result of remarks he made in a disgusting attack on the Walt Disney Company, which has made it clear they don’t support the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” legislation that was recently signed by Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis.

On his “Verdict” podcast, Cruz launched a demented and downright disgusting attack on Disney, telling listeners:

“I think there are people who are misguided, trying to drive Disney stepping in saying, you know, in every episode now they’re going to have, you know, Mickey and Pluto going at it.”

The Texas senator then added:

“But it’s just like, come on, guys, these are kids and, you know, you could always shift to Cinemax if you want that. Like, I’m a dad, it used to be that you could put your kids on the Disney channel and be like, all right, something innocuous will happen.”

So just because Disney doesn’t support state-sanctioned discrimination against LGBTQ Americans, that means they’re suddenly going to start showing smut on their channels? That’s almost as absurd as the rumor that Ted Cruz is an adult when he’s actually little more than a adolescent with the brain of a seven-year-old boy in desperate need of some Adderall.

Twitter wasted no time letting Cruz know that his remarks sounded more like a reflection of his own fantasies than something Disney would produce:

https://twitter.com/GuyWhoWroteThis/status/1516483225484283906?s=20&t=BJU9RNTMNKIQS1b57qoQLA
https://twitter.com/StarlitStell/status/1516502708899004430?s=20&t=BJU9RNTMNKIQS1b57qoQLA