His comments were quickly rebuked by many associated with Disney productions.
We must work together to ensure Disney always remains such a place,” Chapek wrote. “Powerful content that changes hearts and minds only springs from inclusive cultures, which not only attract and retain the best and most diverse talent, but also give those employees the freedom to bring forth ideas that reflect their lives and experiences.
One element in Chapek’s March 7 memo that struck a chord was touting “all of our diverse stories” and listing a number of Disney movies and TV series, including several with LGBTQIA+ themes like Pose, Modern Family and Love, Victor.
Some 800 people tuned in to one such meeting for LGBTQ+ staffers across the company from around the world Thursday, sharing experiences of alleged bad treatment and censorship, exposing a potential major issue in onscreen representation. Deadline has spoken with several people who had been at Disney for at least a decade who described this as “the worst week” they’ve ever had working at the company.Īccording to sources, employees expressed their disappointment in private conversations and in Zoom open forums held by several Disney divisions. What came next was a week of discontent, which released pent-up anger that had been simmering for a long time. 'Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness' Opens $450M Global Portal, $265M From Overseas - International Box OfficeĪfter days of silence that had been met internally - in Chapek’s own words - with “disappointment that the company has not issued a public statement condemning the legislation,” the CEO finally spoke up about the bill on Monday, a week after Chapek’s predecessor Bob Iger had criticized the controversial legislation on Twitter, warning that it would “put vulnerable, young LGBTQ people in jeopardy.”Ĭhapek’s March 7 memo, in which he explained why Disney would not denounce the bill, despite being urged to do so by LGBTQ+ employees in at least one letter to the company leadership and in a meeting with Chapek the week before, sent chills throughout the company, with staffers calling it “tone deaf.”