Disney CEO Bob Iger tells employees he wants to ‘quiet’ down culture wars, ‘respect’ the audience
Iger said it's very important to 'listen to an audience,' and not have 'disdain' for viewers
Disney CEO Bob Iger vows to 'quiet things down' politically in first town hall after rejoining company
Iger shared his vision for the company in his first town hall after coming out of retirement.
Newly reinstated Disney CEO Bob Iger said he wants to lead an effort to "quiet things down" when it comes to the recent cultural and political controversies that have engulfed the company.
Manhattan Institute senior fellow Chris Rufo shared an exclusive video he obtained of the Disney CEO speaking to employees at a town hall, where he called for "respect" for the audience and no "disdain" of their views.
When asked a virtual question by Disney staff about "staying out of making political statements," Iger at first insisted there was a misconception about the company, that some issues "have been branded political," and that he doesn’t necessarily agree those issues are political.
"Do I like the company being embroiled in controversy? Of course not. It can be distracting, and it can have a negative impact on the company. And to the extent that I can work to kind of quiet things down, I’m going to do that," he added.
DISNEY PROPERTIES PUSHED PROGRESSIVE RHETORIC AT EVERY TURN, FROM SPAT WITH DESANTIS TO 'THE VIEW'
Attendees are reflected in Disney+ logo during the Walt Disney D23 Expo in Anaheim, California on September 9, 2022. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Another town hall question was about the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, which critics have dubbed it the "don’t say gay" law. Iger answered cautiously, noting, "When you tell stories, there’s a delicate balance. You’re talking to an audience, but it’s also important to listen to an audience. It's important to have respect for the people you are serving, that you are trying to reach and not have disdain from."
"We’re not going to make everyone happy all the time, and we’re not going to try to. We’re certainly not going to lessen our core values in order to make everyone happy all the time," Iger said.
Last week, former CEO Bob Chapek was fired by Disney’s board of directors. Chapek replaced Iger in 2020, who ran the company since 2005 and was executive chairman in 2021 until he retired.
A screen shows the logo and a ticker symbol for The Walt Disney Company on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., December 14, 2017. (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid / Reuters Photos)
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Chapek’s tenure saw the battle with Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida over the parental rights bill. Chapek criticized the bill, vowing the company would work hard to repeal it. Republicans in the state legislature moved to strip Disney of its self-governing status. According to Rufo, the latest comments by Iger indicate "an important shift. Iger is signaling that Disney is moderating its position in the culture war."
