Walt Disney filed suit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and members of state board for allegedly retaliating after criticizing the company, which became known as Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” It said it plans to appeal the lawsuit after a federal judge rejected it Wednesday. The bill, according to court filings.
“If left as is, it would set a dangerous precedent and give states permission to weaponize public authority to punish the expression of political views with which they disagree,” a Disney spokesperson said. “This is an important case with significant implications for the rule of law, and it will not end here.”
In his judgment, U.S. District Judge Allen Windsor in Tallahassee, Florida, sided with DeSantis and the other defendants, agreeing with the following arguments: Disney could not sue over constitutionally enacted state laws, regardless of whether lawmakers passed them with retaliatory intent.
The First Amendment prohibits government officials from retaliating against protected speech, but the plaintiffs (in this case, Disney) challenged constitutional free speech based on the subjective motives of lawmakers. No appeal can be made, he wrote.
Windsor, who was appointed by then-President Donald Trump in 2019, also wrote that Disney did not have standing to sue the governor or the secretary of commerce.
The controversy began after Disney publicly criticized Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act of 2022. The law restricts classroom discussion of LGBTQ+ issues in public schools and has been widely labeled as a “don’t tell me you’re gay” law.
Disney said in a March 2022 statement that “we are committed to standing up for the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ members of the Disney family, and the LGBTQ+ community in Florida and across the country,” adding that the bill “never It should not have been passed.” And it should never have been signed into law. ”
Disney executives had previously faced harsh criticism from employees and fans for not initially speaking out against the bill, despite employing tens of thousands of people in Florida.
In April 2022, DeSantis held a press conference to advocate for the passage of legislation that would strip Disney of control over special development zones that have given Disney de facto autonomy around its theme parks, including Walt Disney’s, since 1967. asked the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature. world resort. State lawmakers responded within hours, but Democrats quickly denounced it as politically motivated punishment.
Then, a newly created district appointed by DeSantis, known as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight Commission, nullified the deal that Disney had pushed through just before the previous commission was replaced.
. DeSantis repeatedly attacked what he called “woke Disney” in public as he prepared to campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, but abandoned the effort earlier this month. did.
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Disney responded by suing the governor and its directors, accusing them of punishing the company for political comments.
The new board fired back, asking a state court judge to declare the previous agreement, which favored Disney and limited the board’s actions for decades, to be improper and invalid. That case is still pending.
The ongoing dispute between DeSantis and Disney has put a spotlight on how the powerful entertainment company has operated in Florida for decades. A report released by the new board in early December said Disney provided millions of dollars worth of tickets, discounted hotel stays and other perks to the former board and its employees that were “amounting to bribes to public officials.” He is said to have given.
A spokesperson for DeSantis celebrated the decision in a statement, saying that “the corporate kingdom is over” and that “the days when Disney controlled its own government and were above the law are long gone.” Ta.
Reuters contributed to this report
