Disney Fans Angry After Chapek’s Words Are Slammed

It’s been a controversial issue that has left many Disney fans hurt and confused.

With events such as Disney Gay Days, and Pride Month celebrations, it was surprising that The Walt Disney Company had not addressed the recent “Don’t Say Gay” bill in Florida.

Disney has focused on inclusion in its Disney Parks and movies but has recently been scrutinized for its silence regarding a new bill in Florida restricting conversations about gender and LGBTQ+ identities in schools.

Now, both fans and Cast Members have slammed Disney CEO Bob Chapek for his memo to staff this week, in which he finally broke his silence on Florida’s controversial bill.

The bill, which passed at the end of February, has caused outrage among the LGBTQ+ community for its restrictions and prejudice.

Back on March 3, Disney released a short, neutral statement regarding the Florida bill that focused on the company’s “content” and “culture”, saying “The biggest impact we can have in creating a more inclusive world is through the inspiring content we produce, the welcoming culture we create here and the diverse community organizations we support, including those representing the LGBTQ+ community.”

Now, Chapek has finally spoken about the bill with a message that has sparked backlash.

The divisive Disney CEO sent out a company-wide email addressing the controversial “Don’t Say Gay Bill” in the Florida Legislation. Chapek falls short of denouncing the legislation and says that the company will instead continue to “focus on creating an inclusive environment” in its content.

Chapek once again does not take a public stance on the legislation, which prohibits “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity” in schools.

After Disney’s previous CEO Bob Iger demonstrated his public disapproval of the bill, tweeting that it would “put vulnerable, young LGBTQ people in jeopardy”, it has been interesting to see Chapek not show any opinion on the matter.

This neutrality has caused backlash to grow in the Disney community, which Chapek addresses in the memo, saying “I do not want anyone to mistake a lack of a statement for a lack of support.”

But with the role he has and the power he holds in the Florida state, Chapek’s silence is, in fact, being seen as a lack of support by Cast Members and fans, with the memo being described as “tone-deaf” by the LGBTQ+ community. 

The CEO also doesn’t address Disney’s political contributions to legislators who supported the bill. The Orlando Sentinel reported that Disney had funded all of the sponsors and co-sponsors of the legislation, including Dennis Baxley.

Many have commented that Chapek’s memo demonstrates that Disney’s focus on inclusion is for “show”. Back in 2021, Disney added the Inclusion Key to its Cast Member basics. Disney Parks Cast Members work by Disney’s longstanding tradition of The Four Keys – Safety, Courtesy, Show, and Efficiency – which have guided the theme park company’s approach to Guest service for more than 65 years.

Now, it is known as the 5 Keys, with Inclusion seemingly at the center. The fact that Disney won’t denounce the bill is opposite to this Inclusion Key.

Now, #BoycottDisney is trending on Twitter, with many Disney fans aghast at Disney’s involvement, funding, and silence on the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. @vforveemo posted:

Bob Chapek makes no sense. He is supporting the “Don’t Say Gay” bill while also trying to support LGBT+ rights by making inclusive content. You can’t have both. No one in the company seems to support this decision either. #BoycottDisney #DisneyDoBetter

Bob Chapek makes no sense. He is supporting the “Don’t Say Gay” bill while also trying to support LGBT+ rights by making inclusive content. You can’t have both. No one in the company seems to support this decision either. #BoycottDisney #DisneyDoBetter

— VforVeemo (@vforveemo) March 7, 2022

While Disney Cast Member @CameronBlackTD, who works in Disney feature animation as a character technical designer, wrote:

Im gay! I work for Disney feature animation! Disney needs to support the people making the content AND the Families we’re making them for! Silence is unacceptable! #DisneySayGay #DisneyDoBetter

Im gay! I work for Disney feature animation! Disney needs to support the people making the content AND the Families we're making them for! Silence is unacceptable! #DisneySayGay #DisneyDoBetter https://t.co/zdr9VFl0uR

— Waffles 🧇 🔜 GSFC (@CameronBlackTD) March 6, 2022

The Walt Disney Company employs close to 80,000 Cast Members in Florida as it continues to move most of its Southern California-based jobs not fully dedicated to Disneyland Resort to a new regional facility in central Florida.

You can read the full internal memo from Chapek below:

Team,

Before getting to the heart of my message, I want to acknowledge all those impacted by the invasion of Ukraine, especially our team in Europe and our employees around the world who have family in the region. This is an unimaginably difficult time, and my thoughts are with you. I also want to thank the ABC News team covering the horrific events there. Their courage and dedication to informing the world during this crisis is exemplary.

On Friday, I met with a small group of Disney LGBTQ+ leaders to discuss controversial legislation pending in Florida that would impact their communities. I want to thank them for a meaningful, illuminating, and at times deeply moving conversation. I told the group I would write to the entire company with my thoughts on the issues we discussed. I wish every one of our employees could have heard not just the passionate voices in the room, but the bravery, honesty, and pride those voices expressed. It is a conversation I will not forget.

One common theme was disappointment that the company has not issued a public statement condemning the legislation. That disappointment was compounded by the fact that, while not perfect, our company has a long history of supporting the LGBTQ+ community-and in fact, has played an important role in the personal journeys of so many of our employees.

I want to be crystal clear: I and the entire leadership team unequivocally stand in support of our LGBTQ+ employees, their families, and their communities. And, we are committed to creating a more inclusive company-and world. I understand that the very need to reiterate that commitment means we still have more work to do.

I also believe you deserve an explanation for why we have not issued a statement. We are going to have a more fulsome conversation about this at the company- wide Reimagine Tomorrow Summit in April, but I will preview that discussion now as it is so timely.

As we have seen time and again, corporate statements do very little to change outcomes or minds. Instead, they are often weaponized by one side or the other to further divide and inflame. Simply put, they can be counterproductive and undermine more effective ways to achieve change.

I do not want anyone to mistake a lack of a statement for a lack of support. We all share the same goal of a more tolerant, respectful world. Where we may differ is in the tactics to get there. And because this struggle is much bigger than any one bill in any one state, I believe the best way for our company to bring about lasting change is through the inspiring content we produce, the welcoming culture we create, and the diverse community organizations we support.

There’s a reason content is at the top of this list. For nearly a century, our company’s stories have opened minds, inspired dreams, shown the world both as it is and how we wish it could be, and now more than ever before, represent the incredible diversity of our society. We are telling important stories, raising voices, and I believe, changing hearts and minds.

Encanto, Black Panther, Pose, Reservation Dogs, Coco, Soul, Modern Family, Shang-Chi, Summer of Soul, Love, Victor. These and all of our diverse stories are our corporate statements and they are more powerful than any tweet or lobbying effort. I firmly believe that our ability to tell such stories-and have them received with open eyes, ears, and hearts -would be diminished if our company were to become a political football in any debate.

Powerful content that changes hearts and minds only springs from inclusive cultures, which not only attract and retain the best and most diverse talent, but also give those employees the freedom to bring forth ideas that reflect their lives and experiences. We must work together to ensure Disney always remains such a place.

In terms of our communities, we are and will continue to be a leader in supporting organizations that champion diversity. In 2021, we provided nearly $3 million to support the work of LGBTQ+ organizations. And, we have a long history of supporting important events like Pride parades, and for being there in times of need, just as we were following the Pulse shooting in Orlando. All this is why we have earned a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign for 16 years in a row.

Finally, I want to address concerns about our political contributions in Florida. While we have not given money to any politician based on this issue, we have contributed to both Republican and Democrat legislators who have subsequently taken positions on both sides of the legislation. I can also share that Geoff Morrell, our new Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, will be reassessing our advocacy strategies around the world -including political giving -as he begins to integrate the communications, public policy, government relations and SR teams.

Our company has been a force for inclusion for a long time- and that will not change on my watch. We all have a role to play in this effort-from the Cast Members who make magical memories for fans and families of all kinds, to storytellers who take audiences on journeys to new storyworlds that illuminate our own, to everyone in between who is responsible for ensuring our culture lives up to our values. I hope we will all continue rowing in the direction of a better tomorrow.