Disney sues Ron DeSantis for curtailing its magic powers

Ron DeSantis, set to enter the presidential race, is heading for a showdown with the company he has made a foil in his ‘anti-woke’ crusade.

Ron DeSantis is expected to announce his campaign for the presidency next month. Picture: Getty Images

Disney is taking legal action against Ron DeSantis, alleging “a targeted campaign of government retaliation” by the Florida governor over its criticism of his policies.

The corporation, which employs 75,000 people in Florida, launched its case after a board ­appointed by Mr DeSantis voted to overturn agreements giving ­Disney powers over the expansion and control of its Florida theme parks.

Mr DeSantis, 44, who is ­expected to start a campaign for president next month, appears to be heading for a showdown in court with the company led by chief executive Robert Iger that he has made a foil in his “anti-woke” crusade.

The Republican governor signed a bill in February to take control of Disney’s 10,000ha site in central Florida, which was set up in 1967 as a self-governing area, after it criticised restrictions he signed on school discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation for children aged eight and under.

Mr DeSantis, who is on a trade mission in Britain on Friday, is likely to play up the clash in a bid to woo core Republican voters.

Disney’s legal action followed a meeting of the board appointed by Mr DeSantis to oversee development in and around Walt Disney World. It declared void two agreements laying the foundation for billions of dollars in development, including 14,000 additional hotel rooms, a fifth theme park and three smaller parks.

“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 weaponise government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain state officials,” the company said in legal papers.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll last year found that 73 per cent of respondents, including 63 per cent of ­Republicans, were less likely to support a candidate who backed laws designed to punish a company for a political or cultural stance.

The Times