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Disney’s Popularity Takes a Hit Amidst Feud With DeSantis

Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World
Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom, the Walt Disney World Resort / Credit: Disney

Disney is one of the most beloved and admired companies in the world, both on a professional and personal level. Investors love a company that can remain strong through almost everything. Fans love the magical escape that Disney gives them through incredible movies and amazing theme parks. However, for more than a year, Disney has been struggling more than it has in a long time. Not because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but because of its fight with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Things have gotten so bad between Disney and DeSantis that Disney is actually suing DeSantis for retaliation.

Disney fans are going to town on DeSantis' failure to launch

Credit: Matt Johnson, Flickr

Despite millions of people loving the House of Mouse, a new poll shows that its popularity has actually dropped among a certain group of individuals. In this year’s Axios Harris Poll, Disney dropped a whopping 12 spots to rank at number 77. The company’s “Reputational Quotient” went from 73.4 to 70.9. However, whether people’s view of Disney dropped or improved was divided mainly along party lines.

According to Axios:

  • 44% of Democrats but only 21% of Republicans said they were feeling more positive about the company.
  • Meanwhile, 42% of Republicans said their feelings about Disney grew more negative over the past year, compared with 12% of Democrats.
  • 35% of Republicans but just 19% of Democrats said Disney has become less authentic and more divisive.
  • 63% of Democrats but 46% of Republicans describe the company as family-oriented.
donald duck character hug

Credit: Tokyo Disney

Many who responded to the poll said that Disney had not been associated with “ideological” standings, but now they are. Because of what has happened over the past year, people are feeling a certain way about the company. Harris Poll CEO John Gerzema said that the company’s drop is mostly because now, they “divide”.

“The lesson here is that when you divide you subtract,” said Harris Poll CEO John Gerzema. “When you divide audiences, you’re ultimately going to be subtracting customers for your business.”

EPCOT's continual evolution

Credit: Disney

Some Republicans, do not like that Disney is producing “woke” content and speaking out against Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Bill. They have told Disney to go back to being “apolitical”, forgetting that Disney has taken a political stance in the past. Walt Disney even created propaganda videos for the United States government.

Governor DeSantis has said that Disney is suing him for political reasons, and doesn’t seem too worried. However, legal experts have said that DeSantis doesn’t have much of a leg to stand on when it comes to beating the lawsuit. DeSantis has frequently spoken about targeting Disney when they spoke out against the bill. Disney is using his words to prove that he is retaliating against them.

About Krysten Swensen

A born and bred New England girl living the Disney life in Southern California. I love to read, to watch The Golden Girls, and love everything to do with Disney and Universal. I also love to share daily doses of Disney on my Disney Instagram @BrazzleDazzleDisney!

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