Disney sues Florida Governor DeSantis over theme park district takeover

Disney filed a lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis yesterday, claiming that his administration’s takeover of the company’s theme park district is part of “a targeted campaign of government retaliation” to punish Disney for exercising its constitutional right to free speech. The escalating conflict between the entertainment giant and DeSantis, who is a potential Republican presidential candidate for 2024, has grown increasingly contentious.

The lawsuit, submitted to a federal court in Florida, names DeSantis and other members of his administration. According to the lawsuit, “a targeted campaign of government retaliation – orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech – now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights.”

Disney’s outspoken criticism of a law prohibiting school lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity – the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law – provoked the governor’s anger last year. In February, DeSantis took control of Walt Disney World’s self-governing district, openly contemplating increasing taxes on the corporation, imposing seemingly punitive safety inspections, and even constructing a prison beside the theme park.

A panel appointed by DeSantis voted yesterday to rescind agreements that granted Disney autonomy over its vast complex near Orlando, which employs 75,000 people and welcomes 50 million visitors annually from around the globe, generating billions of dollars for Florida’s economy. Disney responded immediately, contending in its filing, “There is no room for disagreement about what happened here: Disney expressed its opinion on state legislation and was then punished by the State for doing so.”

Disney stresses the importance of resisting the state’s retaliation. As one of the state’s largest employers and regional contributors to public coffers, Disney paid US$1.1 billion in state and local taxes last year. The company also plans to invest more than US$17 billion in Disney World in the upcoming decade, predicting the creation of over 10,000 new jobs and increased tourism revenue for Florida. Disney CEO Robert Iger described any action impeding these efforts in retaliation for the company’s stance as “not just anti-business, but it sounds anti-Florida.”

Since the 1970s, Walt Disney World, the world’s largest theme park, has been governed by the Reedy Creek Improvement District, an independent authority with broad local management autonomy that exempted it from most state regulations.

DeSantis, a 44 year old populist right figurehead, has yet to formally enter the White House race but is seen as the leading Republican alternative to Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential nomination. As Florida governor, DeSantis has focused on criticizing Democrats for their perceived liberalism and “wokeness.” His educational initiatives and other measures, including a proposal to allow Floridians to carry concealed weapons without a permit or training, solidify his stance on the right wing of his party, reports Bangkok Post.