Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation on Monday to end Disney's special status in the state.
«Enchanted Kingdom's juicy business at last something is coming to an end«, — he said at a press conference. Florida Governor accuses entertainment giant of lobbying for LGBT interests after the company criticized his bill to limit discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.
I… transferred the area to state administration and appointed 5 members of the state control council. Disney no longer has its own government, the company will live by the same laws as everyone else, and pay its debts and its fair share of taxes Ron DeSantis Governor of Florida
The corporation created by the Disney brothers has enjoyed a special status since the 1960s and the construction of the Disney World theme park. This gave it broad autonomy in Florida and exempted it from most government fees. An amusement park near Orlando is one of the most visited in the world, and the Disney brand remains one of America's favorites.
The relationship between the «Enchanted Kingdom» and Ron DeSantis went bad after Bob Chapek, the former Disney CEO, publicly opposed the governor's push for legislation. He restricted the teaching of subjects related to sexual orientation in elementary schools. DeSantis responded by accusing the company of trying to impose an «ideology».
Rising far-right star with no secret ambitions to enter the White House, Ron DeSantis accuses a group of «elites» of imposing their progressive ideology on a society that «rejects it» . He promised to fight this in his state.