DisneyFanatic.com The Latest News, Advice, and Perspective from Disney Fans for Disney Fans!
It’s been over a year, and the fight between Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is still going strong. Things went from tense, to bad, to worse in a very short amount of time, and there are no signs that the relationship may be improving. The situation between the company and the company is so bad that Disney is suing DeSantis for retaliation. They are also suing the Central Florida Tourism Oversight Committee — the board hand-picked by DeSantis to take over the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
Credit: Disney
DeSantis has been traveling around the country — and the world — touting his victory over the company. He says that Disney “hasn’t made a peep” since he passed the controversial Parental Rights bill, which he takes as a win. However, not everyone agrees with him.
DeSantis is expected to announce his candidacy for President sometime in the near future. And while DeSantis is claiming he beat Disney, his potential opponents are slamming him for his fight with the House of Mouse. One of those people is former South Carolina Governor and Presidential candidate, Nikki Haley. On the podcast “America 180 With David Brody”, Haley slammed DeSantis for working closely with Disney and taking their money, until they said something he didn’t like.
Credit: Associated Press
“Keep in mind DeSantis took $50,000 worth of contributions from Disney prior to this. “He took their executives and lobbyists and put them on prominent state boards. He passed the largest corporate subsidies in Florida history for Disney and Florida right before this, so suddenly they criticize you and you’re gonna have thin skin and do a lawsuit that costs taxpayer dollars…
As a governor talking to another governor who has dealt with work with companies in her state, pick up the phone, meet with the executives and get back to the normal life of business for Florida. Because at the end of the day, businesses are our partners.”
Credit: Disney
Hayley is not the only Republican Presidential hopeful who has gone after DeSantis for fighting with Florida’s largest private employer. Former President Donald Trump has said that Disney has beaten DeSantis and “embarrassed” the governor.
According to The Washington Post, DeSantis’ fight with Disney has already cost Florida taxpayers an estimated $6 million. That is before the case has even gone to court. Disney has accused the governor of retaliating against them for speaking out against the Parental Rights Bill. Most of the lawsuit focuses on the actions DeSantis took against the company. However, some of it uses DeSantis’ own words against him.
Credit: Associated Press
In both his memoir and in public speeches, DeSantis has seemingly bragged about what he has done to Disney. DeSantis also appears unbothered by the lawsuit, saying that he believes it is purely “political.”
