The Walt Disney Company has dealt with several controversies recently for what Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called the company’s “woke” perspective (particularly in relation to a new bill about teaching children “sexual and gender ideology”), and now some previous Disney fans are consciously trying to remove all evidence of Disney from their children’s lives.
Apparently “many parents have vowed to remove Disney from their homes”, including Disney films and Disney+ content. These families are also avoiding Disney Parks.
Patti Garibay, the executive director and founder of an organization called American Heritage Girls, said the following: “It is time to void your household of all things Disney…It has been said before and it bears saying again, ‘Walt would turn over in his grave’ to see what his beloved company has become.”
The Ohio-based Garibay (who is a parent and grandparent) continued, saying that Disney is “no longer a safe haven for families to promote good over evil, but rather an environment without a moral compass…this isn’t your grandmother’s Disney”.
The Walt Disney Company has faced opposition recently due to its stance against the aforementioned Florida bill, which angered Governor Ron DeSantis and has become a big part of the conversation as DeSantis has also set plans in motion to remove Disney’s special autonomy in its Reedy Creek Improvement District.
Disney CEO Bob Chapek, who has faced plenty of opposition himself, vocally opposed the bill after Disney employees protested the company’s lack of action earlier this year.
Disney has been examining its previous films, including films with well-liked characters, to see which plot points and characters are “problematic”. Disney Parks have also stopped referring to Guests (including children) in gender-specific ways such as “princess”.