It’s no secret that Disney is currently having a contentious relationship with the Floridian government thanks to Governor Ron DeSantis, who has seemingly made it his personal mission to take down the media conglomerate. The feud between the company and the politician has captured national attention, leaving some to wonder if Disney will continue to fight or choose to leave Florida behind.
With 75,000 employees, Walt Disney World is Florida’s largest employer. With that in mind, one would think that the park would be in good standing with the governor, but a closer look at their history reveals a much more complicated relationship.
What happened between Disney and DeSantis?
To make a long story short, in 2022, DeSantis signed a law, colloquially known as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, which prohibited discussions of sexuality in the classroom. Many pointed out that the law was broad and implicitly intended to silence LGBT+ people. Disney came under fire for donating funds to politicians who supported the law. The company publicly came out against the law in response to harsh criticism.
DeSantis did not like that and began a campaign against Disney, labeling it the enemy. He continued to antagonize the company, even removing several tax privileges that had previously been awarded. DeSantis’ administration and his supporters have also begun to boycott Disney, with one teacher having been investigated for showing Disney’s Strange World, which features a gay character, in her classroom. Earlier this month, protestors gathered outside of Disney World, bearing Nazi flags and DeSantis 2024 signs.
Disney has retaliated in its own way, with the company holding a summit for gay rights earlier this year and being otherwise notably celebratory this Pride. They’ve also taken legal matters into their hands; Disney is now suing DeSantis for ‘government retaliation.’
Is Walt Disney World leaving Florida?
So far, it looks like Disney is committed to the long haul. Not only have they been sending strong messages to DeSantis’ administration that they will not be backing down, but they’ve also been actively investing in LGBT+ rights. Their new legal battle with DeSantis is only just beginning, and it’s unlikely that Disney would simply walk away in that case.
Though Florida is going through a difficult time, Disney has been an institution in the state for decades. It’s doubtful that the company would simply choose to pack up, change everything, and move out of there. It’s important to note that every administration has an expiration date, and while this fight may get nastier, it certainly won’t last forever.