Disney is suing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, saying he had subjected the entertainment giant to “a targeted campaign of government retaliation”.
Disney filed a lawsuit on Wednesday (26 April) in U.S. District Court against DeSantis and other Florida officials over an alleged “relentless campaign to weaponize government power” in retaliation for “expressing a political viewpoint”.
In the lawsuit, Disney claims DeSantis “threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights”.
“Disney regrets that it has come to this,” the lawsuit states.
“But having exhausted efforts to seek a resolution, the company is left with no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain state officials.”
“In America, the government cannot punish you for speaking your mind,” Disney said in its legal filing.
Disney’s lawsuit asks the court to declare DeSantis’ moves “unlawful and unenforceable”, claiming they were “enacted in retaliation for Disney’s speech in violation of the First Amendment”.
This is the latest development in the ongoing battle between Disney and DeSantis, which started when the company opposed the governor’s so-called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law.
Formally known as the ‘Parental Rights in Education Act’, it bans discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity with students at certain grade levels.
In February, DeSantis took control over Walt Disney World’s special governing district, which was previously called the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
“Campaign to weaponize government power”
DeSantis has renamed it the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and appointed a five-member board to run it.
In March, however, the new board said it had been stripped of many of its powers after Disney entered a series of development agreements with the former board.
The lawsuit was filed on the same day that the district’s board of supervisors, appointed by DeSantis, moved to void the development agreements.
In a shareholders meeting this month, Disney CEO Bob Iger called DeSantis’ actions “anti-business” and “anti-Florida”. He also said the company plans to spend more than $17 billion on its resort over the next 10 years.
Images: Disney
