DeSantis Board Approves Countersuing Disney

Facts

• In response to Disney's lawsuit against the board of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District filed last week, the newly-established board on Monday unanimously voted to file a countersuit against the media company, as its members were named in the original lawsuit.¹
• In last week's lawsuit, Disney asked a judge to void the Gov. Ron DeSantis-appointed board members' takeover of the theme park district, that had been controlled by Disney for the previous five and a half decades.²
• Chairman of the board Martin Garcia said, "Disney sued us, we have no choice now but to respond," adding: "The district will seek justice in state court here in central Florida where both it and Disney reside and do business."³
• The company’s complaint alleges to the US District Court for the Northern District of Florida that DeSantis and the board governing the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District — containing Walt Disney World resort — targeted Disney by nullifying two development contracts.⁴
• Gov. DeSantis and Disney have been feuding since the company first opposed the Parental Rights in Education Act. While Disney claims DeSantis is violating its free speech rights, the governor's office has said it is, "unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government."¹
• Several of the board members — who were appointed to oversee the Walt Disney World tax zone that was previously controlled privately by the company — have vocally supported DeSantis' policies or donated to his campaigns.⁵

Sources: ¹Washington Examiner, ²Al Jazeera, ³The Hill, ⁴ITN, and ⁵Axios.

Narratives

• Democratic narrative, as provided by Vox. Disney is rightly fighting back against authoritarian governor Ron DeSantis who has repeatedly weaponized Florida’s government to infringe on Disney’s First Amendment rights. The potential presidential hopeful has tied his political identity to fighting the absurdly characterized “woke” corporation, but his real identity is his prejudice against LGBTQ+ people, as seen by his discriminatory laws. DeSantis cannot force Disney to abide.
• Republican narrative, as provided by American Greatness. Disney has been badly losing its battle against DeSantis, and it will continue to do so. Not only does the corporation not have any moral ground to stand on, but it also lacks any legal argument to justify its defiance of state law. Disney is shamefully committed to indoctrinating children with inappropriate content. Its behavior should not be rewarded with undeserved corporate welfare.
• Conservative narrative, as provided by IJR. Ron DeSantis has proven himself a leader in a new conservative movement that doesn't put party over values. Fake conservatives have, in the name of "small government," chosen to side with Disney and, in the case of 2024 GOP candidate Nikki Haley, even invited the company and its immoral indoctrination of children to her home state of South Carolina. The Disney-DeSantis feud is separating true conservatives from the corporate shills.

Predictions