If Disney doesn’t like Florida’s new rules, they can just move their whole operation to Colorado. (Disclosure: The Daily Wire has announced plans for children’s entertainment content.)
Governor Jared Polis (D-CO) shared a tweet urging the company to consider relocating to his state amid “authoritarian social attacks” from Florida governor Ron DeSantis (R). The politician went on to guarantee Mickey and Minnie Mouse “asylum” in his state if Disney did take him up on the offer.
“Florida’s authoritarian socialist attacks on the private sector are driving businesses away. In CO, we don’t meddle in affairs of companies like @Disney or @Twitter. Hey @Disney we’re ready for Mountain Disneyland and @twitter we’re ready for Twitter HQ2, whoever your owners are,” Polis wrote.
His offer couldn’t come at a more tumultuous time for Disney. On Wednesday, Florida’s Republican-led Senate passed a bill that eliminates a special taxing district that’s allowed Walt Disney Co. to govern the land where its theme park is located, The Daily Wire originally reported.
This special area, known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, was established in 1967 and allowed the company to use their own vendors ranging from road maintenance to emergency services. These perks came with significant tax exemptions that will now apparently be coming to an end.
Reports say this unique zoning saves Disney tens of millions of dollars every year.
Drama between Disney and Republican politicians including DeSantis has come to a head in recent weeks. In March, the corporation publicly denounced the Parental Rights in Education Bill, which prohibited teachers from instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity to children in grades K-3. Current Disney CEO Bob Chapek originally refused to comment on the bill but eventually bent to mounting pressure from political activists working at the company.
“Florida’s HB 1557, also known as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, should never have passed and should never have been signed into law. Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that,” a Disney spokesman told The Daily Wire in a statement.
“We are dedicated to standing up for the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ members of the Disney family, as well as the LGBTQ+ community in Florida and across the country.”
Shortly after Disney made their stance on the bill clear, leaked footage from a company townhall showed an executive producer bragging about her “not-so-secret gay agenda” and saying she’s been instrumental in adding “queer” content to Disney’s children’s programming.
The backlash against the company has led to complaints and cancellations by consumers, and now Disney is experiencing the repercussions of their actions at a state level. But, they could just move Disney World to Colorado.