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Walt Disney Co sued Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, asking a court to overturn the state’s attempt to take control of the company’s Walt Disney World theme park in Orlando, intensifying a political battle between one of the largest US companies and a potential rival for the White House. .
The lawsuit marks the company’s response to ongoing efforts by DeSantis and supporters to bring Disney, which draws millions of visitors each year to the massive theme park, which first opened in 1971.
“The company has no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect cast members, guests, and local development partners from the relentless campaign to use government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing political viewpoints that are unpopular with certain State officials,” he said. . the company said in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges that the newly formed DeSantis-appointed tourism board violated Disney’s contractual rights, and did so without compensation and due process. Disney also argued that it was denied his First Amendment right to free speech. The company asked the court to declare the action of the Florida legislature invalid.
The battle began last year after the company criticized a state law banning classroom discussions of sexuality and gender identity in schools.
Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger called the retaliation against the company “anti-business” and “anti-Florida.” The company employs about 75,000 people in the country.
A spokesman for DeSantis did not immediately respond to a request for comment. DeSantis, who is seen as a potential candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is currently traveling in Asia as part of a visit to several other countries.
Disney shares were little changed in Wednesday’s market action.
State Republicans last year targeted Disney after publicly clashing with DeSantis, who is widely considered a 2024 presidential candidate.
Florida’s Republican Governor, Ron DeSantis, took another swing at one of his state’s biggest businesses, Walt Disney World, as he halted his campaign in the US ahead of his presidential bid.
Florida lawmakers passed legislation ending Disney’s virtual autonomy in developing the 25,000 acres in central Florida where the theme park is located.
But before taking over by DeSantis’ appointees, Disney pushed through changes in the special tax district agreement that limited the Board’s actions to twenty.
Shortly before the news of the lawsuit broke, Florida’s new supervisory board said Disney’s plans for the potential expansion of the Walt Disney World Resort do not comply with state law, and declared the agreement invalid.
The Central Florida Board of Tourism Supervisors unanimously upheld attorneys’ findings of legal flaws in developer Disney’s February agreement with the previous board, including a lack of public notice.
“What our attorneys have said, factually and legally, what they’ve created is an absolute legal mess,” board chairman Martin Garcia said. “It won’t work.”
The tussle may have boosted DeSantis’ support among US Republican voters, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found, but it has also undermined him among the wider electorate.
Seventy-three percent of respondents – including 82 percent of Democrats and 63 percent of Republicans – said they are less likely to support political candidates who are behind laws designed to punish companies for political or cultural stances.
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