Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro issued a stark warning on Thursday, saying that corporations that chose to “exit the free market” and push ideology over business should prepare to “f*** around and find out” what would happen to them.
Shapiro argued that any business choosing to wade into politics — specifically politics beyond what directly impacted their business — should be prepared to be treated as a political entity rather than simply as a business.
“If corporations choose to exit the free market by seeking media and legal dispensation from anti-market Leftists pushing radical social values, don’t count on those of us who love free markets to defend you. F*** around and find out,” Shapiro began in a brief Twitter thread.
If corporations choose to exit the free market by seeking media and legal dispensation from anti-market Leftists pushing radical social values, don't count on those of us who love free markets to defend you. F*** around and find out.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) April 21, 2022
“Corporations have an interest in lobbying on issues that directly impact their business,” Shapiro continued. “If they choose to engage in politics outside their purview, they will be treated with all the aggression inherent to the political sphere, and they will deserve it.”
Shapiro went on to say that even businesses that did choose to go down that particular road could still turn back.
“Go apolitical again, and we’ll all be happy to go back to business. Turn into a propaganda and lobbying wing for the most radical activists, and be treated in kind,” he said.
Shapiro’s comments come as the Florida legislature considers stripping Disney of its protected tax status and ability to self-govern — a move prompted by the corporation’s pushback against the recently-passed Parental Rights in Education law. (Disclosure: The Daily Wire has announced plans for children’s entertainment content.)
Disney issued a statement immediately following the law’s passage, saying, “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 Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that. 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.”
The Florida State Senate passed a measure on Wednesday that would put an end to the company’s ability to self-govern.
“The measure potentially delivers a blow to the company’s operations in the state,” The Wall Street Journal reported. “The special district, created in 1967 and known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, exempts Disney from a host of regulations and certain taxes and fees related to emergency services and road maintenance.”
Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) explained his support for stripping Disney of its protected status, saying, “I don’t support special privileges in law just because a company is powerful and they’ve been able to wield a lot of power. I think what has happened is there’s a lot of these special privileges that are not justifiable, but because Disney had held so much sway, they were able to sustain a lot of special treatment over the years.”