Since Bob Iger returned as Disney CEO in 2022, he has been fighting a constant battle to restore the company that he left. He has also found himself fighting legal battles on several different fronts, defending Disney's diversity and inclusion initiatives against the “anti-woke” mob.
The Walt Disney Company's well-publicized battle with Florida Gov Ron DeSantis is just one example of Disney having to defend itself for speaking out against Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act, known by its critics as the “Don't Say Gay” bill.
But Disney CEO Bob Iger has also found himself defending the company against lawsuits from investors and the general public perception that Disney's dedication to diversity and inclusion has made the company “woke.” And most recently, former Trump advisor Stephen Miller sued the Walt Disney Company, claiming it discriminated against white people.
However, a newly unearthed video shows an interview with Bob Iger. He says that he does not think the Walt Disney Company has gone far enough with its diversity plans and that Disney should be free to speak out more frequently on political issues in America.
EXCLUSIVE: In January 2021, then-Disney chairman Bob Iger told employees he was committing the company to "taking a stand" on politics because of January 6, then praised himself for making Black Panther, which he said was an example of "diversity and inclusion." pic.twitter.com/Rb41540cGW
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) February 13, 2024
We've tended to shy away from politics, and in doing so, I think we've shied away from talking about issues that aren't political at all. Like the issues that we're talking about today. Maybe it looks like we're taking a stand, well in reality we should be taking a stand. We have to be less cautious about discussing topics that could be divisive and political. Commenting on January 6th isn't political at all. We know it was rooted in hatred and intolerance. Disney should feel free to comment about that without retribution.
The video was released in a tweet from @realchrisrufo and was made in 2021. At the time, Iger had retired as Disney CEO and was Executive Chairman of the Walt Disney Company.
When the video was made, Bob Chapek was CEO of the Disney Company, and he decided to speak out against the Florida law that sparked the company's fight with Gov Ron DeSantis.
Besides hoping for Disney to speak out more frequently on political issues, Iger was also complimentary of movies like Black Panther (2018) and Coco (2017), which he says exemplify Disney's commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Related: Disney is Accused of Being ‘Woke,' What Exactly Does That Mean?
Iger continued:
I'm very proud of a lot of the work we've done in terms of diversity and inclusion on screen, when we did ‘Coco’ for instance at Pixar, a great example of that, or Tiana, or of course ‘Black Panther’ is one of the greatest examples of that. Wow, we did Black Panther, how great are we?
Iger's critics quickly pointed out on X (formerly Twitter) that since Iger made those statements, most of Disney's films that showed diversity and inclusion have failed at the box office. It's those very struggles that Iger is attempting to reverse at Disney right now.
In his attempt to change the course of Disney, Iger has relied on sequels and live-action reboots rather than original storytelling. Disney Animation Studios' last film, Wish (2023), bombed at the box office.
So, while Bob Iger may want Disney to speak out on political issues, he must first get the company going in the right direction so that people will listen.
What do you think of Bob Iger's new video? Let us know in the comments.
