Returning Disney CEO Bob Iger signals move toward political neutrality

In his first townhall meeting since he was reinstated as Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger signaled that he will work to “quiet things down” politically and move toward neutrality in the culture war.

Christopher Rufo, director of the Manhattan Institute’s initiative on critical race theory, shared clips of the townhall which show Iger distancing himself from several controversies under previous CEO Bob Chapek, like Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” legislation and how Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis stripped Walt Disney World of its special administrative status.

When asked by a virtual attendee whether Disney would stay out of making political statements, Iger said that he did not believe “telling stories and attempting to be a good citizen of the world” is political.

But he added that he did not like the company being embroiled in controversy.

“It can be distracting, and it can have a negative impact on the company,” Iger explained. “And to the extent that I can work to quiet things down, I’m going to do that.”

EXCLUSIVE: I have obtained video from returning Disney CEO Bob Iger's first town hall with employees, in which he signals that he will work to "quiet things down" politically and move toward neutrality in the culture war.https://t.co/ZBGdHhxFVS pic.twitter.com/ZbMCZN4MlG

— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) November 29, 2022

Iger was reappointed CEO of Disney after its board ousted his successor, Chapek, over complaints about his management style and a dismal fourth-quarter earnings report.

In response to a question about how the Reedy Creek Improvement District had been dissolved by DeSantis, Iger said that he was “sorry to see us dragged into that battle.”

The Florida governor moved against Disney’s private government after the company declared it would suspend political donations in the state and support organizations working to oppose a parental rights law that bars classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in grades K-3.

When asked about the “situation” around the “Don’t Say Gay” law, Iger said that the company’s LGBTQ employees are important but emphasized a “delicate balance” between the values of its creators and the audience.

“When you tell stories, it's a delicate balance – you're talking to an audience, but it's also important to listen to an audience,” the CEO told the audience. “It's important to have respect for the people that you're serving, that you're trying to reach, and not have disdain for it.”

Iger added that “we’re not going to make everybody happy all the time” and defended its artists’ taking a stand.

“When you’re in a job like mine, or you are responsible for the storytelling… you get paid to have a sense for what is right,” he said about that balance.