Business
'Let's move forward': DeSantis urges Disney to drop the lawsuit
"We've basically moved on. They’re suing the state of Florida. They're going to lose that lawsuit," DeSantis said in an interview with CNBC’s “Last Call."
August 16, 2023 8:42am
Updated: August 16, 2023 8:42am
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday urged Disney to drop the lawsuit against him and other state officials, saying that he has “moved on.”
"We've basically moved on. They’re suing the state of Florida. They're going to lose that lawsuit," DeSantis said in an interview with CNBC’s “Last Call.”
"So what I would say is, drop the lawsuit," DeSantis added. "Let's move forward. I'm totally fine with that, but I'm not fine with giving extraordinary privileges to one special company at the exclusion of everybody else.”
Last April, Disney sued DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) Board, citing a “targeted campaign of government retaliation—orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech.”
Disney’s former CEO verbally opposed Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act, known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which limits the discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in classrooms with students aged nine or younger.
The feud escalated when DeSantis ended Disney’s autonomy over the special tax district surrounding its Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando—a measure that had been implemented more than 50 years ago—and appointed a new board to oversee the district.
In June, DeSantis asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Disney in April, which claims that the Republican presidential candidate engaged in a “targeted campaign of government retaliation.”
DeSantis’ attorneys claim that Disney “grabbed headlines by suing the governor” despite having no basis for the lawsuit.
During Wednesday’s interview, DeSantis stressed the benefits of Florida’s economy, fiscal posture, and leadership in new business formations.
"No one has made Disney more money recently than me because during COVID they were open in Florida," he argued. "[Disney] was locked shut in California, and we said we want you guys to operate because we understand how important it was that their cast members in central Florida had the ability to make ends meet."
"This is a great place to do business," DeSantis emphasized. "Your competitors all do very well here, Universal, SeaWorld. They have not had the same special privileges as you have. All we want to do is treat everybody the same."
