‘Fear’: Disney’s ‘anti-woke’ move after huge box office bombs
A renowned industry insider has made some shocking claims about Disney and suggested that Hollywood has ‘gone full MAGA’.
A Hollywood industry insider has made some wild claims about Disney’s efforts to shift gears following a string of notorious box office flops that faced backlash for supposedly being “too woke”.
In the past few years, Disney’s once bulletproof image has taken a dent following the disappointing performance of films like Snow White, The Little Mermaid and Lightyear.
In wake of its much-publicised downfall, Disney has reportedly shifted gears on its internal “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” efforts and internally rebranded them as “Opportunity & Inclusion,” which Sonia Coleman, Disney’s top HR executive told staff means “empowering all through access, opportunity, and a culture of belonging”.
DEI, which stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, is a framework and set of initiatives aimed at creating fair and respectful environments by representing people from various backgrounds, ensuring equal access and opportunities, and fostering a sense of belonging for everyone.
Industry insider Matthew Belloni revealed that Disney executives told him that the “anti-woke” shift within the company is now well-known.
“That message has definitely been received internally and has manifested itself throughout the content operation,” he claimed via Puck News.
“Disney is about to cast a new Rapunzel in the revived live-action remake of Tangled. I’ll bet you the price of that long, braided wig that the gig will go to a white actress.”
Onyx Collective, Disney’s TV studio division devoted to diverse voices, is reportedly now at risk due to Disney’s shift.
In response to Belloni’s claim, Disney said in a statement that it’s “continuing to evolve our holistic approach to align with our business goals and company values, a process we began nearly two years ago.”
The Hollywood insider went on to claim that Disney is now operating “from a place of fear” due to the new political climate created by Donald Trump.
Disney’s CEO Bog Iger’s eagerness to pull Jimmy Kimmel off air last month, while a surprise to many, appeared to signal the shift in the company’s attitude after last year insisting publicly that its content “won’t advance any kind of agenda”.
Belloni added that this message “has manifested itself throughout content operation”.
“Fear of political boycotts, fear that a punitive government could screw with pending deals like the Fubo acquisition or taking over NFL Media, fear of losing the company’s own narrative to a media-savvy president,” he alleged.
Once a hub to highlight its diversity initiatives, Disney has since taken down its “reimagine tomorrow” website, revealed Belloni.
“Film development slates have been purged of projects that may embroil the company in the culture wars that plagued Lightyear and Snow White and Win or Lose and The Little Mermaid.”
It’s been a rough year for Disney. The company started out the year with a blizzard of bad press.
In March, Snow White starring Rachel Zegler proved a veritable poison apple. The critically panned movie grossed just $205 million globally. And then its much-hyped Fantastic Four reboot failed to perform to expectations, which followed the Captain America sequel that flopped on arrival.
