Will 'quiet the noise' in culture wars, Disney CEO tells investors

Robert Besser
25 Sep 2023, 03 GMT+10

A note by Needham media analyst Laura Martin released this week revealed that CEO Bob Iger told investors that Walt Disney would "quiet the noise" in its culture war against social conservatives in the U.S.
Iger's statement was part of an investors' presentation on Tuesday at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida
Iger also announced that Disney will double its investment in theme parks and cruise ships over the next decade

BURBANK, California: A note by Needham media analyst Laura Martin released this week revealed that CEO Bob Iger told investors that Walt Disney would "quiet the noise" in its culture war against social conservatives in the U.S.

Iger's statement was part of an investors' presentation on Tuesday at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Iger also announced that Disney will double its investment in theme parks and cruise ships over the next decade.

The global media and entertainment conglomerate faces many challenges, such as making its streaming business profitable, improving the quality of its films, and potentially closing its television networks.

In 2022, Disney publicly criticized Florida legislation restricting classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity.

In response, Governor Ron DeSantis responded by campaigning against "woke Disney," and used state legislature to remove the company's self-governing authority over its parks in the state.

Conservative commentators have also criticized Disney for its casting of Halle Bailey, a Black actress, in the lead role of Ariel in its recent live-action version of "The Little Mermaid."

In 2022, several countries banned the Pixar Animation Studios film "Lightyear," which depicts a same-sex couple kissing.

During the company's annual shareholder meeting in April, Iger responded to an investor who said that Disney was becoming too concerned with social issues.

"Our primary mission needs to be to entertain and to have a positive impact on the world. I am very serious about that. It should not be agenda-driven," he said.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Hawaii Telegraph.

More Information

21 ℃

Mostly Cloudy in Honolulu

International

Section

Heavy snowfall, blizzards reported in Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria

CHISINAU, Moldova: Over the weekend, heavy snowfall and strong blizzards in Romania, Moldova and Bulgaria left one person dead and ...

House Ethics Committee report results in Santos expulsion

WASHINGTON D.C.: After a House Ethics Committee report found substantial evidence that he broke the law, New York Republican representative ...

Israel had blueprint of 7 October attack plan - The New York Times

In a report by The New York Times, it has been revealed that Israeli officials had obtained a detailed battle ...

Myanmar ethnic group alliance captures trade gate on Chinese border

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar: Kyar Win, spokesperson for the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, which launched a surprise offensive last month against ...

U.S. backs Israel's restart of earth-shattering war in Gaza

While Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has been frantically shuttling around the Middle East trying to stop the Israeli coflict ...

12 crew members reported missing as Cargo ship sinks off Greek island

LESBOS, Greece: Greek authorities said a cargo ship sank off the island of Lesbos over the weekend during a storm, ...

Business

Section