Welcome to DisneyBizJournal.com - News, Analysis and Reviews of the Disney Entertainment Business!

Brought to fans, investors, entrepreneurs, executives, teachers, professors, and students by columnist, economist, novelist, reviewer, podcaster, business reporter and speaker Ray Keating

Sunday, April 3, 2022

Some Conservative Disney Employees Ask: What About Us?

 by Ray Keating

News/Commentary

DisneyBizJournal.com

April 3, 2022

 

A corporation getting involved in hot political topics rarely turns out to be a wise choice. Disney executives seem to be getting a lesson on this front recently. 



Disney seemed to succumb to pressure from left-wing political activists, including some Disney employees, to weigh in heavily against a piece of legislation in Florida. (That is, the Parental Rights in Education Act, or misleadingly labeled by activists in opposition as the “don’t say gay” bill.) However, leftist groups don’t seem all that pleased with Disney’s tardiness to the issue, while lawmakers in Florida are threatening to turn against one of its top businesses and employers, and people on the Right grumble at the House of Mouse. 

 

In a recent DisneyBizJournal article, I raised questions from an economist perspective – with the help of Nobel Prize winning economist Milton Friedman – about the responsibilities of management in companies to shareholders, that is, to the actual owners of the company, when it comes to corporate social responsibility, which mainly means political issues.

 

Of course, what often happens in cases like this is that just as suddenly as they appear on the political landscape, they just as suddenly disappear, as another topic earns the spotlight and outrage.

 

But while in the midst of this current mess, a question was highlighted by a report in the Orange County Register: In effect, what about conservative Disney employees? The Register reported: “An open letter penned by conservative Disney employees asks the company to remain neutral on issues that have politicized the corporate culture, damaged morale and caused some employees to feel their days working at the Mouse House are numbered.”

 

So, what did this open letter say? Here are several points:

 

• “As employees of the Walt Disney Company, we believe in the dignity of all people. This is why we do what we do. We write stories. We make costumes. We act in parades. We run cruises. We stream movies. We make magic. We do this because our work contributes to a fountain of wonder that inspires joy, awe, and delight in guests and audiences of all ages. We are proud employees of the Walt Disney Company.”

 

• “However, over the last few years, one group of cast members has become invisible within the company. The Walt Disney Company has come to be an increasingly uncomfortable place to work for those of us whose political and religious views are not explicitly progressive. We watch quietly as our beliefs come under attack from our own employer, and we frequently see those who share our opinions condemned as villains by our own leadership.”

 

• “TWDC leadership frequently communicates its commitment to creating an inclusive workplace where cast members feel comfortable sharing their perspectives and being their authentic selves at work. That is not our workplace experience. Over the last few weeks, we have watched as our leadership has expressed their condemnation for laws and policies we support. We have watched as our colleagues, convinced that no one in the company could possibly disagree with them, grow increasingly aggressive in their demands. They insist that TWDC take a strong stance on not only this issue but other legislation and openly advocate for the punishment of employees who disagree with them.”

 

• “Left-leaning cast members are free to promote their agenda and organize on company time using company resources. They call their fellow employees “bigots” and pressure TWDC to use corporate influence to further their left-wing legislative goals. Meanwhile, those of us who don’t align with this vision keep our heads down and do our work without bringing our personal beliefs into the workplace. We’ve done this without complaint because we don’t want to rock the boat, but the boat is being rocked, and our leadership seems compelled to reward those who are rocking it.”

 

• “The company we love seems to think we don’t exist or don’t belong here. This politicization of our corporate culture is damaging morale and causing many of us to feel our days with TWDC might be numbered. Furthermore, as this politicization makes its way into our content and public messaging, our more conservative customers will feel similarly unwanted. You can only preach at or vilify your audience for so long before they decide to spend their money elsewhere.”

 

• “Working for The Walt Disney Company is a dream come true. We love being part of creating the magic that so many people around the world enjoy. Our storytelling is second to none. It resonates with people from all walks of life across the political spectrum. Our parks are the source of joy and inspiration that Walt hoped they would become. Every year, millions of guests escape an increasingly divided world to a place where they can relive fond memories of the past and savor the challenge and promise of the future. They do this alongside thousands of other guests that might not have anything in common with them other than a shared love of Disney.”

 

• “When Disney takes sides in political debates, they deprive the world of a shared love we all have in common. TWDC is uniquely situated to provide experiences and entertainment that can bridge our national divide and bring us all together.”

 

• “Disney shouldn’t be a vehicle for one demographic’s political activism. It’s so much bigger and more important than that. More than ever, the world needs things that we can unite around. That’s the most valuable role The Walt Disney Company could play in the world at this time. It’s a role we’ve played for nearly a century, and it would be a shame to throw all of that away in the face of left-wing political pressure. Please don’t let Disney become just another thing we divide over.”

 

The U.S., unfortunately, is a nation increasingly divided, as politics supplant or overrun other institutions. It’s nice to be able to sit down to entertainment that amounts to great storytelling devoid of the latest political flare up. Disney has long done that, but now many people seem to be wondering if that will be the case going forward.



__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Two great ways to pre-order Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel, which is Ray’s sixteenth work of fiction, and the first in the Alliance of Saint Michael series. Signed paperbacks at 

https://raykeatingonline.com/products/cathedral and/or the Kindle edition at 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WYW2Q2V

 

Two great ways to order Ray Keating’s new nonfiction book – The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks at https://raykeatingonline.com/products/weeklyeconomist and/or the Kindle edition at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WKN81RG.

 

Get more out of 2022 with The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution! It combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more. Also, “The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution” comes with a handy spiral binding for easy use. 

 

Keating has three new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13th thriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.comPast Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Again, get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com. And order the 15th book in the series What’s Lost? A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story – grab it at Amazon.com or signed editions at www.raykeatingonline.com

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of DisneyFree Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

8 comments:

  1. So a couple of bigoted, hateful Karens that work for Disney are complaining that their hateful views make other people not like them and you think everyone else should stay quiet and let the Karens be Karens and decide for us how we'r run society? Sad.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ray, Disney has always been involved in politics. So have almost all of the large corporations in America. Are the oil & gas companies staying out of the climate change debate? HA. Do Lockeed Martin and Boeing stay out of politcs? Hardly. How about electricity producers in Florida. In it up to their eyeballs. Disney is dependent on large numbers of employees and on viewers and theme park attendees. Disney's stance reflects the views of THE MAJORITY of the people in this nation. De Santis' stance does not. I support Disney in this...and I'm a stockholder too.

    Ray, you make a big deal about being for the free market. Disney is taking a stance. LET THE MARKET DECIDE WHAT THE REACTION IS. If Disney's stance causes people not to come to Disney parks or subscribe to Disney Plus, THEN YOU CAN GROUSE. That's not likely to happen. It's THE MARKET, Ray.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "That's not likely to happen"

      It's already happening.

      Delete
  3. Bob Chapek is using shareholder money to confuse vulnerable children in public schools as to their sex. Consider the case of Abigail Stevens. DCFS in California took her child because Abigail wouldn't consent to puberty blockers. They gave the drugs to her child anyway, several months later the child commits suicide by stepping in front of a train. It starts in California and spreads across the USA via the schools.

    Disney is a highly diversified company and that's their Achilles heel. There are a thousand different things parents can boycott. In these inflationary hard times, it's easier to maintain a disciplined boycott. We intend to sting Disney everywhere.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I SOLD MY SHARES IN DISNEY. The best boycott.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mr. Keating is correct. My extended family will not be spending any money on any Disney platform. We don't appreciate large Corporations expanding on political dogma.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I was really hoping to take a Disney Cruise. Covid intruded, preventing that from happening. Now that Disney has expressed opposition to my beliefs that young children should not be sexualized in kindergarten to grade 3, there is no way I will hand over a cent to Disney. Sad to see great organizations like Disney become so corrupted.

    ReplyDelete
  7. http://www.fegroupblog.com/2022/04/4622.html

    ReplyDelete