In a strange turn of events, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urges Disney Company CEO Bob Iger to “drop the lawsuit.” Governor DeSantis said that he and his allies have “moved on” from the feud, despite all signs to the contrary. DeSantis made these statements in a lengthy interview with CNBC as he attempts to reset his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.
Related: DeSantis Board Goes Full ‘Anti-Woke,’ Abolished DEI and Race-Based Hiring
Throughout the interview, DeSantis struck a less hostile tone than he has in the past when addressing the Walt Disney Company. While on the campaign trail, he has accused Disney of “grooming” and “sexualizing” children. Iger responded by calling those claims “preposterous and inaccurate.”
When asked what he would say to Bob Iger, DeSantis said in the interview:
They’re suing the state of Florida. They’re going to lose that lawsuit. So what I would say is, drop the lawsuit. This is a great place to do business. Your competitors all do very well here, Universal, SeaWorld. They have not had the same special privileges as you have. So all we want to do is treat everybody the same and let’s move forward. I’m totally fine with that. But I’m not fine with giving extraordinary privileges, you know, to one special company at the exclusion of everybody else. I would just say, go back to what you did well. I think it’s going to be the right business decision and all that.
Related: ‘Corrosive to Democracy’ Former Republican Lawmakers Blast DeSantis’ Feud With Disney
Disney is suing Gov DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District in Federal Court, claiming that DeSantis “orchestrated retaliation” against Disney for exercising their First Amendment rights. This stems from former Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s response to Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Law, known by its critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill.
Florida Gov Ron DeSantis and Florida Lawmakers responded by removing Disney’s special district, the Reedy Creek Improvement District, and replacing it with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
Related: DeSantis ‘Welcomes Disney’s Surrender
This possible end to the stalemate comes at a terrible time for both the Walt Disney Company and Gov Ron DeSantis. Disney has seen its movies flop and attendance drop at Disney World. While Florida Gov DeSantis is being beaten badly in the polls by former President Donald Trump.
Perhaps this could be a breakthrough in the lawsuit or another in a long line of talking points from the two sides.
We will continue to update this breaking news at Disney Fanatic.
