Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis slammed Disney during an interview Tuesday night after the company’s CEO, Bob Iger, said that he was sorry that the company was “dragged” into a fight with the state of Florida.
DeSantis made the remarks during an interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson in which he was asked about Disney’s opposition to the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, which banned schools from talking about sexual matters with young children.
Carlson played a clip where Iger said, “I was sorry to see us dragged into that battle. And I have no idea exactly what its ramifications are in terms of the business itself.”
“What I can say is, the state of Florida has been important to us for a long time, and we have been very important to the state of Florida,” Iger continued. “That is something I’m extremely mindful of and will articulate if I get the chance.”
When asked how he would respond to Iger’s remarks, DeSantis said, “We didn’t drag them in, Tucker. They went in on their own, and not only opposed the bill. They threatened to get it repealed.”
“These are parents’ rights, important policies in our state that are very popular. And so they brought this on themselves,” he continued. “All we did was stand up for what’s right. And, yes, they’re a big, powerful company. But you know what? We stand up for our folks. And I don’t care what a Burbank-based California company says about our laws.”
WATCH:
Gov. Ron DeSantis reacts to recent comments from Disney CEO Bob Iger: "They brought this on themselves." pic.twitter.com/t6CC6ieEM3
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) November 30, 2022
TRANSCRIPT:
TUCKER CARLSON, FOX NEWS HOST: So, one of the companies who was benefiting a lot from the government, the government of the state of Florida, actually, was Disney.
You changed that. So, they just switched CEOs because of that, because of what you did. The new CEO is the old CEO, Bob Iger. He has held a town hall for employees. And he said he regretted that Disney had fought with your administration over a bill that you backed that banned teachers from talking to kindergartners about sex.
So, then Disney’s response led Florida state legislatures to strip, as you know, of course, because you backed it, Disney of its special status. Here’s what Iger said today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT IGER, CEO, WALT DISNEY COMPANY: I was sorry to see us dragged into that battle. And I have no idea exactly what its ramifications are in terms of the business itself.
What I can say is, the state of Florida has been important to us for a long time, and we have been very important to the state of Florida. That is something I’m extremely mindful of and will articulate if I get the chance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARLSON: How do you respond to that? He’s talking about you.
DESANTIS: We didn’t drag them in, Tucker. They went in on their own, and not only opposed the bill. They threatened to get it repealed.
These are parents’ rights, important policies in our state that are very popular. And so they brought this on themselves.
CARLSON: Yes.
DESANTIS: All we did was stand up for what’s right.
And, yes, they’re a big, powerful company. But you know what? We stand up for our folks. And I don’t care what a Burbank-based California company says about our laws.
CARLSON: Governor Ron DeSantis of the state of Florida, thanks so much for that.
We will be right back.
DESANTIS: Thanks.
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