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“The corporate kingdom finally comes to an end,” DeSantis said
during a press event at Lake Buena Vista near Orlando.
State Republicans last year targeted Disney after it publicly
clashed with DeSantis, who is widely considered to be running
for president in 2024, over a law that restricts classroom
instruction of gender and sexual orientation, known by its
opponents as the "Don't Say Gay" measure.
In March, Disney’s then-chief executive officer, Bob Chapek,
publicly voiced disappointment with the bill limiting LGBTQ
discussion in schools, saying he called DeSantis to express
concern about the legislation becoming law.
In a move political observers viewed as retaliation for Disney's
view on the “Don’t Say Gay” measure, Florida lawmakers this
month passed a bill, which DeSantis signed into law, that
authorizes the governor to appoint five supervisors to oversee
traditional municipal services, such a fire protection, public
utilities, waste collection and road maintenance in the region
where Disney World operates. The quasi-government entity also
has the authority to raise revenue to pay outstanding debt and
cover the cost of services.
"We have a situation here that was basically indefensible from a
policy perspective," DeSantis said. "How do you give one theme
park its own government and then treat all the other theme parks
differently? We believe that that was not good policy."
A spokesperson for Disney did not immediately respond to a
request for comment.
Speakers at the bill-signing ceremony included a parent who
criticized Disney for speaking out against the state's education
bill, saying the company, "chose the wrong side of the moral
argument." Another person who identified himself as a longtime
Disney theme park employee took issue with the company's
policies regarding vaccinations.
Disney World is the largest employer in central Florida with
close to 75,000 employees and drew 36.2 million visitors in
2021, according to the Themed Entertainment Association.
Disney shares were up 0.4% on Monday.
(Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles and Helen Coster
in New York; Editing by Mark Porter and Nick Zieminski)
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