The Wrath of Disney

Disney is suing the Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for alleged retaliatory actions taken against the company after a political push back. Disney claims that DeSantis “threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights.”

This feud started a year ago after former Disney CEO Bob Chapek openly opposed DeSantis’ “Don’t Say Gay” law. The Governor then stripped power from the entity that grants Disney their self-governing abilities, Reedy Creek Improvement District. Before this legislation went into effect, however, Disney signed an agreement with the board that would grant Disney development rights and final say over alterations to the 40-square mile property.

On April 26th, the board, appointed by DeSantis, voted to invalidate this signed agreement. Current Disney CEO Bob Iger replied with a lawsuit, claiming that this vote is “patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional.”

The district lawyers claim that they found procedural missteps that rendered the agreement void because not all parties were made aware of the vote and that it should have been approved by the district’s two cities. Before fully striking down the agreement, the board also heard from business owners who operate on Disney property.

Disney hopes the courts will recognize that these actions were “enacted in retaliation for Disney’s speech in violation of the First Amendment.” They also ask that they reverse the decision that stripped its special tax status and dissolved the special district.