Disney's Florida fallout
Business Daily
BBC
4.4 • 816 Ratings
🗓️ 29 April 2022
⏱️ 19 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
We look into the decision by Florida's governor Ron DeSantis to dissolve Disney's special status in the state. It follows Disney's criticism of a new law restricting discussion of LGBTQ issues in schools. What will the row mean for the company, and what questions does it raise for other companies navigating the so-called 'culture wars'?
We hear from Disney historian Richard Foglesong, and a former vice president of operations at Disney World, Lee Cockerell. The New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz and Christina Huguet, an analyst at political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, give their perspectives on whether companies should take a stand on the issues of the day.
Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: James Graham Photo: A Disney employee protests against the company's initial silence on a controversial new law restricting discussion of LGBTQ issues in schools. (Credit: Getty Images)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | I had this secret. I robbed banks in my spare time. |
| 0:06.4 | Lives less ordinary from the BBC World Service. |
| 0:09.6 | This is not a good thing to do because police are after you. |
| 0:14.9 | Find out more at the end of this podcast. |
| 0:18.5 | Hello, I'm Rahul Tandon. Welcome to Business Daily here on the BBC. On today's program, |
| 0:24.7 | we're looking at the move to strip Disney of its special status in Florida. This state is governed |
| 0:31.0 | by the interests of the people of the state of Florida. It is not based on the demands of California corporate executives. |
| 0:39.7 | What could it mean for Disney? And does it pose new questions for companies navigating the so-called |
| 0:45.6 | culture wars? They are afraid that if they don't take a stand, they will be targeted by these people. |
| 0:52.3 | And so they operate out of a place of fear. |
| 1:03.4 | Disney World in Florida. |
| 1:05.4 | It's known as the Magic Kingdom, |
| 1:07.7 | a destination for thousands of holiday makers, |
| 1:12.6 | each year who are keen to soak up the atmosphere of a fantasy land built on decades of iconic characters and films that some of you |
| 1:18.2 | will know very well. But could that dream be over? |
| 1:24.6 | All is not well in the self-proclaimed happiest place on earth. |
| 1:29.9 | Disney World in Orlando, Florida. |
| 1:32.2 | It's turning out of breaking news. |
| 1:33.5 | Just moments ago, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, did sign a bill, which is now law, |
| 1:38.9 | to end Disney's special self-governing status. |
| 1:41.4 | Florida, the fight between Disney and the governor over a controversial new law that limits |
| 1:46.0 | discussion of sexual identity in public schools is escalating. |
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