The Disney Company Needs To Get Out of Trump’s Bed
This afternoon I wrote a series of tweets about the uncomfortable and potentially brand-damaging relationship that Disney CEO Bob Iger (pictured above, left) is pursuing with U.S. president Donald Trump, a relationship that puts financial aims above the welfare of Disney employees and the carefully polished cultural brand of the Walt Disney Company.
It turned out that as I was writing the tweets, Trump was hosting a screening of Disney/Pixar’s Finding Dory in the White House:
Trump screens "Finding Dory" at White House as thousands protest immigration ban outside https://t.co/vYfZVu4aAV pic.twitter.com/zN35kzFXl3
— The Hill (@thehill) January 29, 2017
There is a major disconnect right now between the messages being sent out by the creative team at Disney and its upper management. The company’s animation studio is currently winning awards for Zootopia, a film about prejudice and social divisions, while its CEO is actively courting a president who came into power by exploiting prejudice and social division.
“It was horrifying to see that members of our society were being persecuted, very obviously because of what they looked like,” Zootopia co-director Rich Moore recently told the L.A. Times about black men who are targeted by American law enforcement. “I remember saying, ‘This is exactly what we’re talking about with this movie.’ It was emboldening.”
Comments like those by Moore ring hollow, however, when Disney’s CEO is collaborating with the country’s highest elected official, a president who is recklessly targeting and endangering large segments of Disney’s workforce and audience. Iger’s refusal to spell out Disney’s corporate and social values before engaging with Trump are deeply troubling.
Thus far, the only comments Iger has made on Trump have placed corporate profit over people. Shortly after the election, Iger said that he was “hopeful” about Trump because, “There is going to be far more energy around attacking the tax code, changing the tax code, closing loopholes on corporate taxes and lowering the base.”
Here’s the initial of tweets that I wrote. We’ll continue to follow this story.
Shameful, shortsighted, and stupid that @Disney CEO Bob Iger is collaborating with Trump to boost the DisneyCo's profits at any cost. /1
— Cartoon Brew (@cartoonbrew) January 29, 2017
Bob Iger chose to join Trump's Strategic and Policy Forum, which is scheduled to have its first meeting this Friday. /2
— Cartoon Brew (@cartoonbrew) January 29, 2017
Walt Disney Co. wants Trump to help them because, as Iger explained, "We've been lobbying a lot for the need for a new tax policy." /3
— Cartoon Brew (@cartoonbrew) January 29, 2017
Iger's key aim for getting into Trump's inner business circle is financial: how can Disney boost shareholder value. /4
— Cartoon Brew (@cartoonbrew) January 29, 2017
Iger isn't considering the thousands of Disney employees who are minorities, immigrants, women & LGBTQ being affected by Trump's policies /5
— Cartoon Brew (@cartoonbrew) January 29, 2017
There is a proper way for the entertainment industry to handle the current situation and it's exemplified by @Netflix CEO @reedhastings. /6
— Cartoon Brew (@cartoonbrew) January 29, 2017
This is the statement released by @reedhastings: https://t.co/2U5VvHELh1 /7
— Cartoon Brew (@cartoonbrew) January 29, 2017
"Trump's actions are hurting Netflix employees around the world, and are so un-American it pains us all."—@reedhastings /8
— Cartoon Brew (@cartoonbrew) January 29, 2017
. @Netflix is unequivocal in standing up for its employees. @Disney is staying silent & arguably undermining the welfare of its workforce /9
— Cartoon Brew (@cartoonbrew) January 29, 2017
For Iger, a Democrat, Trump is a marriage of convenience, but the damage to @Disney's cultural brand will be steep if he continues. /10
— Cartoon Brew (@cartoonbrew) January 29, 2017
