Comic Nate Bargatze criticizes Disney for neglecting its audience

Nate Bargatze Critiques Disney’s Direction

Comedian Nate Bargatze has openly criticized Disney for, in his words, abandoning its audience. In a recent interview with Esquire Magazine, he shared his thoughts on the company’s trajectory.

Bargatze, known for his family-friendly stand-up comedy, has skyrocketed to fame, selling over a million tickets to his shows—outperforming comedy heavyweights like Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chapelle, and Sebastian Maniscalco.

But his ambitions extend beyond stand-up. He discussed plans to launch his own family-oriented production company in 2023 and aims to step back from touring a few years later to focus on building a media empire.

Bargatze, who has been a Christian comic for over two decades, mentioned how icons like Seinfeld, Judd Apatow, Adam Sandler, and even Walt Disney inspired him. While he appreciates Disney’s founders for their dedication to their audience, he believes that the current leadership has strayed from that commitment.

He specifically criticized Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger, suggesting that he’s more focused on business than connecting with viewers. Bargatze remarked, “Well, the guy doesn’t care about the audience.”

In his view, the audience plays a crucial role, and he considers himself a servant to them. “This wouldn’t happen without them,” Bargatze said.

Recently, Disney has faced pushback from critics who accuse the company of leaning into a “woke” agenda. As part of its response, Disney has announced moves to scale back certain initiatives that drew scrutiny in light of shareholder concerns. Critics like America First Legal (AFL) have argued that such policies harmed the Disney brand, citing a loss of over $100 billion in market value since 2021.

Looking ahead, Bargatze envisions a media company that could rival Disney, focused on family-friendly content. He dreams of producing films and shows, selling merchandise, publishing books, hosting podcasts, mentoring young comedians, and even establishing a theme park in Nashville named Natelyland.

“I’ll be honest with you, we’re closer than people think,” he said about the park, while acknowledging that it’s still a bit of a distance away.

Plans are in motion to develop the park at the site of the former Opryland theme park, marking a significant step in his vision. Additionally, he’s set to host the 77th Emmy Awards in September, as announced by CBS in April.