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Disney has branded a decision by a judge to dismiss its lawsuit against Ron DeSantis as ‘dangerous’, with the company planning to appeal the decision as its ongoing dispute with the Florida governor continues
Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 02 Feb 2024
Ron DeSantis has been in dispute with Disney since 2022
Disney’s ongoing dispute with Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, has taken another turn after a federal judge ruled that the company could not sue him over a constitutionally enacted state law, regardless of if that law was passed with the intent of retaliation.
While the US’s first amendment does prohibit government officials such as DeSantis from retaliating against protected speech, judge Allen Winsor said that Disney could not bring a free speech challenge to an otherwise constitutional law based on lawmakers’ subjective motivations.
According to Disney, this latest twist in the tale sets a “dangerous precedent”, with the company planning to appeal the ruling.
“If left unchallenged, this would set a dangerous precedent and give license to states to weaponise their official powers to punish the expression of political viewpoints they disagree with,” said a Disney spokesperson. “This is an important case with serious implications for the rule of law and it will not end here.”
Disney and DeSantis’s feud began following the introduction of Florida’s so-called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law, which restricts the discussion of LGBTQ+ issues in public schools.
Following the law’s introduction and with public pressure to take a stance against the move, Disney suspended political donations in Florida. As a result of this, DeSantis would attempt to strip Disney of its special Reedy Creek governing district, which allows the company to regulate itself in Florida at Disney World. In response, Disney invoked the name of King Charles III with a special clause that handed control back to the company. Disney then filed its lawsuit against the Florida governor, alleging that his administration has been waging a “targeted campaign of government retaliation” against the company’s “protected speech.”
DeSantis has repeatedly attacked what he dubs “woke Disney” during appearances as he attempted to win the Republican Presidential nomination, an effort he has now abandoned after failing in his attempt against former President Donald Trump.
In a statement following the ruling, DeSantis declared that the “Corporate Kingdom is over”, adding that “the days of Disney controlling its own government and being placed above the law are long gone”.
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