DeSantis fires back at Disney criticism: ‘I’ve made them a lot of money’

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Claims He Made Disney More Money Than Anyone Else

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said during his 2024 presidential launch that nobody “has made Disney more money than me,” and defended his continued feud with the media giant.

DeSantis vs. Disney

DeSantis and Disney first clashed over the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, a bill making it illegal to discuss sex and gender identity with children below fourth grade, who are usually nine years old or younger. Disney opposed the bill, joining critics who dubbed it the “Don’t Say Gay” bill despite it having no explicit reference to any particular sexual or gender identity.

Since then, DeSantis has stripped Disney of its self-governing status, and has threatened further attacks on the company’s Orlando theme park.

Defending His Actions

The governor further defended his actions against Disney.

“Florida stands for the protection of children we believe jamming gender ideology in elementary school is wrong,” DeSantis said. “Disney obviously supported injecting gender ideology in elementary school.”

DeSantis said that the move to strip Disney of its self-governing status and their defeat over the Parental Rights in Education “was a big deal because for 50 years, anytime Disney wanted something in Florida politics, they pretty much got it.

“But not this time.”

DeSantis said Disney wanted to “inject matters of sex into the programming for the youth.

“I think a lot of parents including me look at that and say that’s not appropriate. I mean, we want our kids to be able to just be kids.”

Corporate Goodies

In the discussion, DeSantis shot back at GOP criticism, saying that “Republicans that are taking Disney’s side, [are] basically showing themselves to be corporatists because these are all corporate goodies.”

“This is not the way you would run a competitive economy. And the arrangement had really outlived its usefulness, but it persisted because Disney was so politically powerful. I think the company’s ethos have changed in a way that’s alienated a lot of people in our legislature and in Florida, and so there was really no justification to keep it,” DeSantis added.

The governor has received growing blowback against his moves, including from some Republicans who have encouraged DeSantis to end the feud.

Final Thoughts

Love him or hate him, Governor Ron DeSantis is not afraid to take on big corporations like Disney in defense of what he believes is right for the people of Florida.

Whether or not his feud with Disney will continue remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: DeSantis is not backing down anytime soon.