Mod: Remember back when people use to say DeSantis was smart? Disney sues Gov. Ron DeSantis, alleging political retaliation (The Washington Postlink): Walt Disney Co. is suing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) over what it calls a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power” — a major escalation of the year-long clash between the entertainment giant and conservative governor.
The lawsuit filed Wednesday in
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida came the same day the governor’s handpicked board declared a
Disney-friendly deal null and void.
Disney and
DeSantis’s office have been tussling privately for the past year, but the frequency and intensity of their sparring has intensified dramatically in recent days.
The standoff, which could have major political and economic consequences, began in early 2022 when
Disney leaders criticized a controversial education bill advanced by
DeSantis and other
Florida Republicans.
Disney’s resorts in
Florida are some of the state’s prime attractions, but
DeSantis expressed outrage that the company dare criticize the education bill, and he began attacking the company, saying it had received preferential treatment for too long.
Disney’s Magic Kingdom location near
Orlando is considered the busiest theme park in the world, drawing nearly 13 million visitors in 2021. Its
Animal Kingdom resort is also a top draw, attracting more than 7 million people that year, according to
AECOM and the
Themed Entertainment Association.
In its legal complaint, Disney accused DeSantis of punishing it for protected speech, threatening its business operations, jeopardizing its economic future in the region and violating its constitutional rights.
“Having exhausted efforts to seek a resolution,” the complaint said, “the
Company is left with no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against
Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain
State officials.”
Mod: More at the link.
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