Politics
Disney’s New Non-Woke Strategy: Entertainment Over Politics
Clear Facts
- Disney is reportedly distancing itself from cultural and political controversies, as evidenced by recent decisions like removing a transgender storyline from an upcoming Pixar series.
- The company has seen more success with non-political films, suggesting a shift back to focusing on entertainment rather than political messaging.
- Disney’s involvement in a defamation settlement with ABC News and President-elect Donald Trump has sparked criticism from liberal commentators.
Disney, a giant in the entertainment industry, seems to be recalibrating its approach to cultural and political issues after facing significant backlash over the years. This shift is highlighted by the company’s decision to remove a transgender storyline from the forthcoming animated Pixar series “Win or Lose.”
“When it comes to animated content for a younger audience, we recognize that many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline,” a Disney spokesperson explained.
This move marks a departure from Disney’s recent emphasis on diversity and inclusion in its films, which some attribute to its series of box office disappointments in 2023.
The company has started to see more success with films that steer clear of political themes, such as “Deadpool & Wolverine” and “Moana 2.” Experts suggest this may indicate a return to prioritizing entertainment.
Charles Elson, a former director at the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance, emphasized, “Disney provides a product: entertainment. It shouldn’t be about politics.”
In addition to its entertainment focus, Disney has been involved in a notable legal settlement with ABC News and President-elect Donald Trump. Trump had sued ABC News, owned by Disney, for defamation after incorrect statements were made on-air by host George Stephanopoulos.
Rather than prolonging a costly trial, ABC News agreed to a settlement, paying $15 million to a Trump presidential foundation and museum, along with $1 million in legal fees. This decision drew criticism from liberal commentators who accused Disney of yielding to Trump.
“When you get into politics, you are making a statement,” Elson remarked. “And when you get out, that also becomes a statement.”
He further noted, “You don’t want to get in a fight with the head of a government that regulates you. Politics is bad for business.”
Disney CEO Bob Iger echoed similar sentiments in an interview, stating, “I think the noise is sort of quieted down. I’ve been preaching this for a long time at the company before I left and since I came back then our number one goal is to entertain.”
Iger elaborated, “The bottom line is that infusing messaging as a sort of a number one priority in our films and TV shows is not what we’re up to. They need to be entertaining.”
He added, “But generally speaking, we need to be an entertainment-first company.”
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