The battle between the Walt Disney Co. and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, among other government officials, reached a new level today, with the company filing a First Amendment lawsuit against Florida over what it calls its "targeted campaign of government retaliation."
At the center of the feud is Disney's opposition to the controversial "Don't Say Gay" legislation, which DeSantis signed into law in March 2022. Disney, under then-CEO Bob Chapek, criticized the legislation, and DeSantis then put in place plans to revoke Disney World's self-governing privileges in the Orlando area.
In the lawsuit, filed in Florida federal court, Disney called the moves by DeSantis and his allies to assert more control over Disney's Orlando parks “retaliation for Disney’s political speech in violation of the First Amendment.” It adds that it's been "orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech" and "now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights."
The legal document notes that Disney wishes it could've found a resolution short of filing a lawsuit, "but Disney also knows that it is fortunate to have the resources to take a stand against the State’s retaliation."
Disney v. DeSantis
The lawsuit marks a dramatic escalation of the conflict. Disney is the largest employer in Florida and DeSantis, meanwhile, is expected to be a top Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential race.
In February, DeSantis quietly took control of the newly named Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. A deal signed on Feb. 8 allows the governor to appoint his own oversight board, whereas the state previously allowed Disney to select its own board members. DeSantis has since appointed five allies to the board.
While Disney previously said it was “ready to work within this new framework," today's lawsuit signals serious pushback at the government's moves to undercut the company's autonomy within Florida.
Thumbnail credit: Orlando Sentinel/Getty Images
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
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