Disney files lawsuit against Ron DeSantis over response to 'woke' politics

Walt Disney Corp. has taken Ron DeSantis, the Governor of Florida, to court for allegedly retaliating against its political stance. The company claims in a federal lawsuit that DeSantis, a Republican contender for the presidency, “orchestrated at every step” a campaign to punish Disney for its LGBTQ-friendly policies. The lawsuit alleges that DeSantis launched a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power” which threatens the company’s ability to do business in the Sunshine State.

The suit was filed in Tallahassee just after the DeSantis-appointed board voted to void a deal that had kept most powers in the company’s hands for decades. This is the latest round in a still-escalating feud between DeSantis and Disney, the state’s largest private employer and a significant driver of tourism in Florida. Last year, the feud erupted after Disney publicly opposed DeSantis’ signature “Don’t Say Gay” law which restricts public school discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity. The governor threatened to abolish the self-governing district that includes Disney’s theme parks.

DeSantis has been criticized by Republican rivals, including former President Donald Trump, who called the fight a rejection of traditional business-friendly GOP policies. The board of supervisors in question now claims Disney's move to retain control over their property was legally flawed. DeSantis has also threatened to build a new prison near the child-friendly entertainment Mecca and sic state inspectors on Disney’s famous rides and monorails.

The governor, who commands total control over the state legislature, later backed off and instead appointed a new board of supervisors to oversee municipal services in the sprawling theme parks. The Bloomberg news outlet reported that the new board didn’t even notice the last-minute changes until several weeks later, leading to ridicule for his administration. However, before the new board came in, the company pushed through an 11th-hour agreement that stripped the new supervisors of much of their authority.