Disney-sponsored NBA team donates $50K to GOP candidate’s PAC, raising eyebrows.
Politics and Basketball Collide: NBA Team Sponsored by Disney Donates $50K to GOP Candidate’s PAC
Politics can create some unexpected connections and degrees of separation. The latest example of this comes from an unlikely source – the NBA’s Orlando Magic franchise.
The Magic, often seen as the ”little brother” of Florida’s NBA teams, has become the center of a strange and tangible connection between the Walt Disney Company and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
How did this happen? It all started with a political donation. The Orlando Magic appears to be the first NBA team ever to back a presidential candidate, contributing $50,000 to Ron DeSantis’s Super PAC. When asked for clarification, the team’s spokesperson declined to comment publicly on political contributions.
Orlando Magic appear to be the first NBA team… ever? to back a presidential candidate: $50k to Ron DeSantis’s Super PAC
I asked spox to clarify if donation should instead be attributed to owner Richard DeVos; response was “we don’t comment publicly on political contributions” pic.twitter.com/9B5yuvIUF3
— Alex Shultz (@AlexShultz) August 1, 2023
This revelation has sparked controversy, as it is unusual for an organization to not distance itself from a political donation. Political contributions from team owners, especially conservatives, are not new. However, it is surprising that the Magic did not take the opportunity to distance themselves from the DeSantis donation.
team owners dumping money on presidential candidates (especially conservatives) is not new; in this case, it’s very odd that, when given the opportunity, the organization isn’t distancing itself from the DeSantis donation
— Alex Shultz (@AlexShultz) August 1, 2023
So, the Orlando Magic’s donation has directly linked the team and owner Richard DeVos to Ron DeSantis. On the other hand, Disney has a longstanding connection with the Magic through the NBA’s Community Sponsorship program. This partnership includes various corporate agreements and features Disney’s logo on Magic jerseys.
It’s worth noting that DeSantis and Disney have been engaged in a bitter feud due to the company’s opposition to the governor’s past legislation. However, Team DeSantis recently secured a significant legal victory that could impact Disney’s countermeasures.
Thanks to the Magic, the two entities are now linked in a way that goes beyond their rivalry. This revelation has triggered an uproar from players, prompting the NBA Players Association to release a scathing statement. They find it alarming that the Magic made a political contribution given the recent comments and policies of its beneficiary. The statement emphasizes that individual players and personnel have the right to express their political views, but when contributions are made on behalf of the entire team, the diverse values and perspectives of staff and players should be considered.
A statement from the NBPA on the Orlando Magic’s recent political donations.
Official statement: https://t.co/6fmRZCxVzG pic.twitter.com/JQEk0V4Ztl
— NBPA (@TheNBPA) August 3, 2023
The Magic’s donation does not represent player support for the recipient, according to the NBPA’s statement.
It’s clear that politics and basketball have collided in a surprising way, creating a web of connections and controversy. The NBA team sponsored by Disney has made a significant donation to a GOP candidate’s PAC, leaving many questioning the motivations and implications of this decision.
The post NBA Team Sponsored by Disney Donates $50K to GOP Candidate’s PAC: ‘Very Odd’ appeared first on The Western Journal.
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