Disney has requested a Florida judge to dismiss a lawsuit concerning its efforts to counter a takeover of Disney World’s governing district by Governor Ron DeSantis and his appointees. This legal battle is a result of Disney’s public opposition to the “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, which DeSantis and Republican lawmakers supported. In response, DeSantis took control of the district and appointed a new board. However, Disney is challenging both DeSantis and his appointees in separate lawsuits.
The governor has been using his feud with Disney as part of his campaign for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, accusing the company of being too “woke,” while Disney claims that the governor is infringing on its free speech rights.
During the court hearing, Disney’s attorneys argued that the state court decision would be irrelevant since the Legislature has already passed a law invalidating the agreements made by the previous governing board, which granted the company design and construction powers. If the judge chooses not to dismiss the case, Disney requested that it be put on hold until a federal lawsuit in Tallahassee, which covers similar grounds, is resolved.
In the federal lawsuit, Disney is suing DeSantis and his appointees, claiming that the governor is violating the company’s free speech rights and abusing his governmental powers. The attorneys for the district’s board opposed the dismissal of their case, arguing that it was not moot and that putting it on hold would be improper. They also claimed that Disney’s federal lawsuit was not properly served to the defendants.
The judge did not provide a timeline for her decision but requested both parties’ attorneys to prepare orders as if she had ruled in favor of each side by next Wednesday.
The conflict between DeSantis and Disney began when the company publicly opposed a state law banning lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades. In response, DeSantis took over the district and appointed a new board, but Disney had already made agreements with the previous board members, which stripped the new supervisors of their authority over design and construction. To counter this, DeSantis and lawmakers repealed those agreements.
In May, Disney announced that it would abandon plans to build a new campus in central Florida and relocate employees from Southern California. In an interview, Disney CEO Bob Iger stated that the company wants to avoid getting involved in culture wars and instead focuses on telling compelling stories and making a positive impact on the world.
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