Disney Pauses Florida Political Donations, CEO Apologizes Over Response

Video: ‘The Walking Dead’ Announces Fifth Spinoff ‘Isle of the Dead’ | THR News (The Hollywood Reporter)Jane Campion Apologizes to Venus and Serena Williams | THR NewsKardashians Return in Hulu Reality Series Trailer | THR NewsBAFTA Awards: ‘Power of the Dog’ Wins Best Film, Director, ‘Dune’ Dominates Crafts | THR NewsJohn Oliver Slams Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s Response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay Bill” | THR News‘CODA’ Receives Outstanding Achievement in Screenwriting | Raising Our VoicesAustin Butler in Talks for Key Villain Role in ‘Dune 2’ | THR NewsNick Cannon Daytime Talk Show Canceled | THR News‘The Batman’ Spinoff ‘The Pengiun’ Starring Colin Farrell Coming to HBO Max | THR NewsDisney+ Gives First Look at ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ in Teaser Trailer | THR NewsChris Redd on Representation at ‘SNL,’ Mental Health and Who Wrote Kim Kardashian’s Monologue | Emerging HollywoodEmmy Rossum Stars in ‘Angelyne’ Teaser as Peacock Reveals Premiere Date | THR News‘Black Panther’ Director Ryan Coogler Gets Mistaken for a Bank Robber | THR News‘Bridgerton’ Season 2 Trailer Has Arrived | THR NewsRoles We Love: Oscar IsaacFlorence Pugh in Talks to Join Timothee Chalamet in ‘Dune: Part 2’ | THR NewsTyler Henry Talks Netflix Series, Sharing His Backstory and “Shocking” Family Discovery | THR InterviewNorman also apologised for missing an event he was scheduled to attend in Atlanta recently. Season 11 of The Walking Dead is airing now, and once complete, Norman is set to star in a spinoff series centring on his character Daryl Dixon and Melissa McBride's Carol Peletier.

On Saturday night, Greg Berlanti used his PGA acceptance speech as a platform to widely criticize the “Don’t Say Gay” legislation in Florida.

While not specifically calling out Disney’s recent debacle surrounding Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy made it known that she and her fellow PGA Milestone Award recipient George Lucas are on the right side of history, giving a shout-out to the impact of diverse, female and LGBTQ artists in the motion picture industry.

Lightyear following a backlash after it was cut.As reported in Variety, the animated prequel for Toy Story’s Buzz Lightyear includes a relationship between two female characters. A kiss between the two is said to have been removed but later reinstated after a backlash to its removal, and Disney’s recent handling of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Disney CEO Bob Chapek recently apologised to employees for his silence over Florida’s controversial ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill which was passed earlier this month.The Republican-led bill, formally known as Parental Rights in Education, bans discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten to third grade classes (aged 8-9).

The Walt Disney Co. and CEO Bob Chapek are under fire for their perceived slow reaction to the “Don’t Say Gay” bill that recently passed the Florida Senate. It now heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is likely to sign it into law.

After coming under fire for its handling of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, Pixar is restoring a cut scene from its upcoming film “Lightyear”.

Pixar’s forthcoming Toy Story prequel Lightyear has put a same-sex kiss back following an internal backlash to Disney’s handling of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation.

Adam B. Vary Senior Entertainment WriterOn March 9, LGBTQ employees and allies at Pixar Animation Studios sent a joint statement to Walt Disney Company leadership claiming that Disney executives had actively censored “overtly gay affection” in its feature films.

Gabrielle Union did not hold back when asked about Disney's 'slow response' to Florida's so-called 'Don't Say Gay' bill, which has drawn wide criticism, while speaking toVariety at the premiere of her Cheaper by the Dozen remake on Wednesday.The 49-year-old star came out swinging against the company, saying the 'damage is done now' and encouraged corporations and those in 'positions of power' to take a 'hard stance' against the bill.Disney workers opposing the bill claimed CEO Bob Chapek failed to act quickly to advocate against the bill as he admitted he 'missed the mark' and have planned week long walkouts in protest. Speaking out:Gabrielle Union did not hold back when asked about Disney's 'slow response' to Florida's so-called 'Don't Say Gay' bill, which has drawn wide criticism, while speaking to Variety at the premiere of her Cheaper by the Dozen remake on Wednesday'Somebody asked me, 'Are you disappointed?' I'm disappointed when my order isn't right at In-N-Out.

Gabrielle Union has hit out at the Walt Disney Company over its decision to take a soft stance regarding the “Don’t Say Gay” bill banning Florida teachers in classes up to third grade from talking about LGBTQIA+ issues with their students.

Gabrielle Union has levied criticism towards the Walt Disney Company over its widely derided decision to take a soft stance regarding new anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation in Florida.The actress, who stars alongside Zach Braff in the studio’s upcoming Disney Plus reimagining of “Cheaper by the Dozen,” voiced her dismay regarding the situation on the red carpet for the streaming release.“Somebody asked me, ‘Are you disappointed?’ I’m disappointed when my order isn’t right at In-N-Out. I don’t even think that’s a word that you could use for something like this, where children’s lives are literally hanging in the balance,” Union told Variety at the premiere.

Marvel Studios have added their voice to the debate surrounding the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill in the US, saying the company “strongly denounces” any legislation that affects the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.The Republican-led bill, formally known as Parental Rights in Education, bans discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten to third grade classes (aged 8-9). It argued that conversations around identity should be handled by parents, not schools.A statement shared by Marvel Studios on social media read: “We strongly denounce any and ALL legislation that infringes on the basic human rights of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Disney’s bungled response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The movie studio issued their vote of support in a Twitter statement Wednesday.“We strongly denounce any and ALL legislation that infringes on the basic human rights of the LGBTQIA+ community,” they wrote.

As The Walt Disney Company employees planned walkouts today over “the lack of compassion and advocacy” from the company in regard to its LGTBQIA+ workers and their rights, especially where Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill is concerned, Disney-owned Marvel Studios posted a statement to Twitter strongly denouncing “any and ALL legislation that infringes on the basic human rights of the LGBTQIA+ community.”

The WGA West is calling on Hollywood to reconsider filming in Florida if Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill passed by the state’s legislature last week.

J. Kim Murphy Marvel Studios released a statement denouncing anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation on Tuesday afternoon.

Angelique Jackson A group of Disney employees have planned a week of in-person and virtual walkouts in response to the company and CEO Bob Chapek’s handling of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Bill.On Monday afternoon, the Twitter account called Disney Walkout posted a message explaining that, “The LGBTQIA+ workers and allies at The Walt Disney Company are standing in solidarity together over the coming weeks.”The post then linked to an open letter written in partnership with members of the LGBTQ community across the Walt Disney Company (including Disney Corporate, Disney Television Animation, Lucasfilm, Pixar, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Disney Streaming, Enterprise Finance, Enterprise Technology/Global Information Security and Bento Box). “The recent statements by The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) leadership regarding the Florida legislature’s recent ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill have utterly failed to match the magnitude of the threat to LGBTQIA+ safety represented by this legislation,” organizers wrote.

actively censor depictions of, or references to, same-sex affection in films despite touting itself as an LGBTQ-affirming place to work.CEO Bob Chapek initially defended the decision, claiming that the company “unequivocally” stands with its LGBTQ employees in the wake of the bill’s passage but saying he feared that taking a firmer position on the bill could backfire if any statements were “weaponized” by either proponents or opponents of the bill.But following backlash, both internally and externally, Chapek apologized for the company’s silence, saying in a statement sent to employees that he was sorry for the pain caused by Disney’s inaction.“Speaking to you, reading your messages, and meeting with you have helped me better understand how painful our silence was,” Chapek said in the statement. “It is clear that this is not just an issue about a bill in Florida, but instead yet another challenge to basic human rights.

“When we donate money to different political candidates, we have no idea how they’re going to vote going forward into the future,” said Disney CEO Bob Chapek at a shareholders meeting this past week.

A bill has been introduced in the Georgia senate that resembles Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation.

UPDATE:  Human Rights Campaign Interim President Joni Madison said last night that she has spoken to Disney CEO Bob Chapek, but did not reveal specifics about their conversation.