On Wednesday, Disney filed a lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over the Republican’s takeover of the state’s theme park district, claiming the governor engaged in a “targeted campaign of government retaliation” because the company objected to a measure known as “Don’t Say, Gay.”
Minutes after a DeSantis-appointed Disney World oversight board voted to invalidate a contract that gave the business control over theme park design and construction, the lawsuit was filed in Tallahassee.
The Republican presidential candidate DeSantis and Disney, a significant political force and Florida’s top source of tourism have been engaged in a long-running battle.
Business leaders and the governor’s competitors for the White House have harshly criticized the conflict with Disney, viewing it as an unprecedented rejection.
The conflict started last year when Disney, under intense pressure, openly challenged state legislation that forbids teachers from teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity to young students, a practice known as “Don’t Say, Gay.”
DeSantis took control of Disney World’s self-governing district as retribution and formed a new board of supervisors to manage governmental services at the vast theme parks.
However, the business pushed through a last-minute arrangement that significantly reduced the new supervisors’ power before the new board took over.
The DeSantis board declared on Wednesday that Disney’s action to maintain control over their property was illegal and carried out without the required amount of public notice.
Disney chose this board as the battleground. Martin Garcia, chair of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, stated, “We weren’t seeking a confrontation, but our lawyers have told us that what they constructed is a factually and legally absolute legal nightmare.
It won’t function.
Additional punishment has also been promised by DeSantis, who has suggested building a prison close by and strengthening governmental monitoring of the resort’s rides and monorail.
According to Disney, every deal reached with the prior board was valid and authorized in a public setting. According to Disney CEO Bob Iger, any actions taken against the firm that jeopardized jobs or future growth at its Florida resort were ” anti-business ” and “anti-Florida.”
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