Business
Disney Fanatic is here to deliver the latest business-focused news from The Walt Disney Company and beyond.
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Oct- 2026 -1 October
Disney President Reveals Why ‘Moana’ Flopped and Where Jimmy Kimmel Stands
Live-action Moana was projected to open at $85 million. It opened at $18 million. Disney has now explained what happened, and the explanation is one factor out of three. Some context. Dana Walden, Disney's President and Chief Creative Officer, addressed it at Bloomberg's Screentime this week, along with Jimmy Kimmel's future and the layoffs. Credit: Disney Her take on Moana: “It's so competi
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Sep- 2026 -28 September
“It Pisses Me Off”: Bob Chapek Claims Bob Iger Destroyed His Florida ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Strategy and Cost Disney Reedy Creek
Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek is spilling the tea on one of the most chaotic chapters in theme park history. In his explosive new memoir, Behind the Castle Walls, Chapek revisits his 2022 feud with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over the state’s Parental Rights in Education Act (commonly known as the “Don't Say Gay” bill). But rather than taking accountability for the public relations mi
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25 September
Disney Legal Team Told to Expect Cuts, No Number Given
Disney's top lawyer told his own department, in writing, that it is about to get a lot smaller. “LGA will be a much smaller organization than it is today, and some of you will personally be affected by decisions we make in this process.” That is Horacio Gutierrez, Disney's Chief Legal and Global Affairs Officer, in an internal memo dated September 18, 2026. Some context. Every Disney l
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25 September
Masterclass in Shade: Bob Iger Responds to Chapek’s Memoir and Admits Disney’s Greatest Mistake
When excerpts from former Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s tell-all memoir, Behind the Castle Walls, went public, Hollywood braced for a messy public brawl. In his book, Chapek launched a fierce defense of theme park price hikes, accused Bob Iger of a “relentless” effort to sabotage his leadership, and alleged that Iger secretly resigned in early 2020 because he foresaw the COVID-19 pandemic. A
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24 September
No Regrets, No Apologies: Bob Chapek Unloads on Bob Iger and Defends Disney Park Price Hikes
For nearly four years after his abrupt firing in late 2022, former The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek remained silent as commentators analyzed his controversial tenure. That silence has officially ended. In an explosive preview reported by The New York Times, Chapek’s forthcoming memoir settles corporate scores, defends his most criticized decisions, and unloads on the predecessor who helped b
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22 September
Three Disney Divisions Reportedly Named in New Round of Layoffs
Disney has laid off people in April, July, and August. A report says another round lands before September ends. That is this week. Some context. Matthew Belloni reported it in his Puck News column, citing sources. He describes the cuts as “more limited and focused in H.R., product/tech, and other operations functions.” Disney declined to comment. No number has been reported. He also sh
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16 September
Disney Reportedly Tightens Return-to-Office Enforcement for Remote Staff
Some remote Disney employees got a message Monday that could change their career. Return to the office four days a week, or face termination. The Walt Disney Company isn't joking. Some context. Look, this fight has been running six years now and it keeps landing the same way. Remote work went from emergency measure to completely normal in 2020. Companies figured out that a huge chunk of knowledge
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13 September
“Corporate Hypocrisy”: Fans Blast Disney for Giving Ted Cruz Airtime After Benching Jimmy Kimmel Guest, James Talarico
The Walt Disney Company is facing intense backlash across the sports and media landscape following a controversial weekend of conflicting programming decisions. On Saturday, September 12, 2026, Disney-owned ESPN gave conservative U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) nearly 10 minutes of prime airtime during College GameDay, live from Austin, Texas. Credit: ESPN The segment—which featured Cruz pitching pro
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10 September
Disney Fires Back at Reports ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Is Cancellation-Bound in 2027
Disney and ABC Entertainment are fiercely disputing reports claiming that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will end its late-night run in May 2027. Network executives issued a direct statement labeling rumors of an impending cancellation “inaccurate” and “purely speculative,” attempting to regain control of the narrative as political pressure from President Donald Trump and federal regul
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3 September
It’s Official: Disney Just Unlocked the Doors to a Brand-New Physical Store Today
For fans who grew up wandering through mall aisles filled with endless walls of plush toys and cast members ready to talk about the newest animated release, today is an incredibly exciting day. After years of dramatically shrinking its physical retail footprint in favor of digital shopping, The Walt Disney Company is finally bringing the in-person magic back to a major shopping center. Credit: Phi
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