Ron DeSantis vs. Disney Takes New Turn with Latest Lawsuit
The feud between Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has escalated even further, as the House of Mouse finally filed a lawsuit against DeSantis, claiming that he and his government has initiated a "targeted campaign of government retaliation" over his "anti-woke" and culture war policies.
Disney calls DeSantis's campaign against the company as "patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional."
The entertainment giant alleges that the Florida governor is punishing it for its practice of free speech, with the retaliation now threatening not only the company's business operations in Florida, but also "jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights."
Disney has been very public about its condemnation of Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law, which bans schools and teachers from talking about LGBTQ topics to students. This resulted in the company pulling endorsements and financial support not just for DeSantis, but also for several Florida politicians allied with the governor.
According to ABC News, its parent company, Disney, has cited that the law "should never have passed and should never have been signed into law."
Poll Finds Ron DeSantis Vs. Disney Feud Unpopular Among Florida Voters
The feud between DeSantis and Disney has now truly escalated thanks to the lawsuit that asks the court to declare Florida's legislative action unlawful. However, the governor's actions against one of the state's largest employers may also backfire on him.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll launched earlier this month found that only 44% of Republicans in Florida have said they had a more favorable view of DeSantis because of his feud with Disney.
REAAD MORE: North Carolina Is Luring Disney World to Abandon Florida for Tar Heel State
According to the poll, a lot more Florida residents, around 73% of respondents, stated that they were less likely to support a political candidate who backs laws designed to punish a company for its political or cultural stances. This includes 82% of Democrats and 63% of Republicans.
Other Republicans Attack DeSantis Over Feud With Disney
While DeSantis is battling Disney, fellow Republicans have now ganged up on the Florida governor for his actions. This includes former South Carolina governor and Republican presidential candidate for 2024, Nikki Haley, who took a jab at DeSantis' battle with Disney.
"Hey @Disney, my home state will happily accept your 70,000+ jobs if you want to leave Florida. We've got great weather, great people, and it's always a great day in South Carolina," she said in a social media post. "SC's not woke, but we're not sanctimonious about it either."
Former President Donald Trump, DeSantis's biggest rival for the Republican nomination, stated that the Florida governor is being "absolutely destroyed by Disney." He suggested that Disney should slowly withdraw certain properties or the entire thing, and stated that his rival's political stunt was unnecessary.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, another potential Republican candidate, stated that the feud is becoming a tit-for-tat because it's not going as he had planned. According to Politico, he stated, "it's not good for Governor DeSantis. I don't think it's good for the Republican party."
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Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: Disney sues Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, alleges political effort to hurt business - CNBC Television