Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has found himself suddenly in demand again, and the racial justice activist announced Monday that he&#8217;d inked a first-look deal with The Walt Disney Company and ESPN to produce &#8220;scripted and unscripted stories that deal with race, social injustice and the quest for equity,&#8221; including a documentary series about his own life, <a href="https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/colin-kaepernick-walt-disney-first-look-deal-espn-1234698911/">per Variety</a>.
Kaepernick, who left the National Football League in 2017 after turning down a one-year contract with the 49ers, has signed several lucrative deals of late, beginning with a multi-year agreement, multi-million dollar contract with Nike. He also recently inked a deal with Netflix for another autobiographical project, &#8220;Colin in Black &amp; White,&#8221; which, the streaming network says, will &#8220;examine Kaepernick&#8217;s high school years to illuminate the experiences that shaped his advocacy.&#8221;
Critically acclaimed director Ava DuVernay has signed on to help handle that six-episode series, which will reportedly debut later this year.
The new Disney/ESPN projects, part of a long-term partnership between the network and Kaepernick&#8217;s Ra Vision Media production company, will have a focus on social justice and will fall largely under ESPN&#8217;s &#8220;The Undefeated&#8221; venue, which &#8220;focuses on matters of race in sports,&#8221; but could involve collaborations between Kaepernick and other Disney media properties, like animation studio Pixar and streaming network Hulu.
The partnership will “elevate important stories of lives too often unseen and to deliver them to a vast audience across The Walt Disney Company,” the senior vice president of ESPN&#8217;s The Undefeated said in a statement. We want to continue to call attention to the issues of racial injustice that America is wrestling with, and do that in new, compelling ways.”
&#8220;I am excited to announce this historic partnership with Disney across all of its platforms to elevate Black and Brown directors, creators, storytellers, and producers, and to inspire the youth with compelling and authentic perspectives,” Kaepernick said Monday, according to Variety. “I look forward to sharing the docuseries on my life story, in addition to many other culturally impactful projects we are developing.”
The project will include input from Jemele Hill, a fellow racial justice advocate and former ESPN employee who was terminated from the network following comments she made about President Donald Trump &#8212; and the network&#8217;s decision to scale back on political content.
&#8220;The new series will utilize new interviews as well as never-seen-before archival material that documents the most recent years of Kapernick’s life,&#8221; Variety reports. &#8220;The athlete has enlisted Jemele Hill, the journalist who previously worked for both ESPN and The Undefeated, as a producer on the project.&#8221;
This docu-series, in contrast to the Netflix docu-series, will focus on Kaepernick&#8217;s decision to initiate an anti-racism protest in 2016, which involved him kneeling during the NFL&#8217;s patriotic pre-game festivities, including the national anthem. The protest eventually took root across the NFL, triggering a nationwide outcry. Kaepernick became a free agent in 2017 but went unsigned after turning down a short contract extension with the 49ers.
After several failed attempts to return to the NFL, Kaepernick became a full-time activist, and, following the death of George Floyd while in the custody of the Minneapolis police, returned to national prominence as a leading voice of the Black Lives Matter movement.
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers with the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe"> member</a>.

Colin Kaepernick

Colin Kaepernick Signs Deal With Disney/ESPN To Make Docu-Series About His Own Life, Social Justice Films

Disney

ESPN

One of Disney Plus’ biggest attractions opened just in time for Independence Day.
The streaming channel debuted the Tony Award winning production “Hamilton” on July 3.
The hip-hop musical is hailed as a creative modern retelling of Alexander Hamilton’s journey to becoming a Founding Father of the U.S. Created by composer, playwright, performer, and producer Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton won 11 Tony awards in 2016 as well as the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Drama.
Viewers <a href="https://www.cnet.com/how-to/hamilton-coming-to-disney-plus-july-3-but-you-cant-stream-with-a-free-trial-how-to-watch/">can’t even leverage a free Disney Plus trial</a> to see it. It’s full price or bust.
But wait…
We’ve spent the last month seeing American statues spray-painted or toppled. Confederate symbols got thrown into the circular file along with the president who <a href="https://www.insider.com/boston-removing-statue-lincoln-standing-over-freed-black-man-2020-7">fought a Civil War to free American slaves</a>.
Even Mt. Rushmore is under attack, both by Native American activists and The New York Times.
As the 1619 Project bravely taught us, America was built by slaves in order to preserve and protect slavery. It’s already been decided that “<a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/gal-gadot-imagine-fallout/">Imagine</a>” should be the <a href="https://nypost.com/2020/06/26/activists-change-national-anthem-to-john-lennons-imagine/">new national anthem.</a>
So how can woke Americans watch Lin-Manuel Miranda and co. pay tribute to the Founding Fathers?
Sure, “Hamilton” features people of color playing Caucasian leaders like the title character, George Washington, and Aaron Burr. The color-blind casting proved a welcome twist when the show first debuted in 2015.
It was woke … for its time. Today? That’s hardly a defense.
This racist nation shouldn’t be celebrated in song, let alone via an award-winning musical honoring its founders. Is there a better way to heal the nation than by demanding Disney Plus remove “Hamilton” as quickly as it unveils it? No warning label could address a production dedicated to slave owners, a la HBO Max’s treatment of “Gone With the Wind.”
The production’s unwoke agenda is hardly new. Harvard Law School’s Annette Gordon-Reed <a href="https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2016/10/correcting-hamilton/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CHe%20bought%20and%20sold%20slaves,having%20a%20president%20for%20life.%E2%80%9D">sounded the alarm</a> four years ago on the subject.
The show portrays Hamilton as a “young, scrappy, and hungry” immigrant (he was born on the Caribbean Island of Nevis, but qualified as a U.S. citizen when the Constitution was adopted), an egalitarian, and a passionate abolitionist.
All of this is wrong, Gordon-Reed said.
“He bought and sold slaves for his in-laws, and opposing slavery was never at the forefront of his agenda,” she said.
“He was not a champion of the little guy, like the show portrays,” she said. “He was elitist. He was in favor of having a president for life.”
It gets worse.
“In the musical, only Jefferson is shown as a slave holder,” said Gordon-Reed, who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2009 for her book on the family of Sally Hemings, slave and mistress to Jefferson. “But Madison owned slaves too, and so did George Washington.”
Black Lives Matters didn’t rise up following the killing of George Floyd only to see Americans celebrate the Founding Fathers anew. And Disney had been working so hard to be socially conscious. The company <a href="https://insidethemagic.net/2020/06/disney-video-black-lives-matter-ky1/">released a video</a> shortly after Floyd’s murder <a href="https://insidethemagic.net/2020/06/disney-black-lives-matter-kc1/">supporting BLM.</a>
We just learned the<a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-to-paint-black-lives-matter-on-sides-of-courts-at-disney-per-report/"> words “Black Lives Matter” will be painted</a> on the three NBA basketball courts at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex.
Airing “Hamilton” represents a monumental step backward.
All of this, of course, assumes BLM, and its many supporters, are both consistent and logical in their quest to fix our broken country; that they have the country’s best interests at heart, not a political agenda with dubious goals, at best.
Right?
If that wasn’t true, though, our fearless mainstream media would have warned us already.
A version of this article appears on <a href="http://HollywoodInToto.com">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

TOTO: Shouldn’t ‘Hamilton’ Get Canceled Next?

Cancel culture

Hamilton

rioters

Along with endorsing players putting social justice messages on the backs of their jerseys, the NBA is working with the players union to paint &#8220;Black Lives Matter&#8221; on both sides of the courts in Walt Disney World arenas, where the league will play when it resumes its coronavirus-paused season in late-July. Despite the league&#8217;s efforts to incorporate social justice themed protests into its games, some players are still planning on opting out of playing in order to focus on activism.
The NBA&#8217;s Disney courts decision follows players &#8220;insist[ing] that the fight for racial equality and social justice be a central part of the NBA&#8217;s return to play and the WNBA&#8217;s new season,&#8221; as well as several players stating they plan to stay off the court when play resumes &#8220;to focus on social justice issues,&#8221; <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29384944/nba-plans-paint-black-lives-matter-courts-orlando">ESPN</a> reports.
&#8220;The NBA and National Basketball Players Association are planning to paint &#8216;Black Lives Matter&#8217; on the court inside both sidelines in all three arenas the league will use at the Walt Disney World Resort when it resumes the 2019-20 season late next month in Orlando, Florida,&#8221; ESPN reported this week, citing league sources.
Sources told the network that the WNBA is also considering painting the slogan on the sides of courts at the IMG Academy in Florida, where the WNBA&#8217;s season will resume. Along with the reference to the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/black-lives-matter-led-drive-to-defund-the-police-also-targets-capitalism">far-left organization</a> behind recent protests and riots, the WNBA is considering including the phrase &#8220;Say Her Name,&#8221; a reference to Breonna Taylor, who was shot dead by police in March, on the backs of their jerseys.
NBA players have also been given the greenlight to include social justice-themed statements on the backs of their jerseys, a move first reported following a conference call with the press on Friday that including union leaders from both leagues. The leagues, they said, were in discussions with the union to allow players to put their own messages on their jerseys in order to &#8220;call attention to racial equality, social justice and police brutality,&#8221; ESPN reported.
<a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-to-paint-black-lives-matter-on-sides-of-courts-at-disney-per-report/">CBS Sports</a>&#8216; Sam Quinn praised that decision as &#8220;powerful,&#8221; but argued that it &#8220;puts the onus on players.&#8221; The decision by the league to paint the politically charged slogan on its sidelines makes clear that the league stands fully behind the players&#8217; activist message. &#8220;The league itself needed to send a message of solidarity, and is doing so with its latest decision,&#8221; Quinn writes.
Multiple players have announced that they plan to sit out the Disney games, some citing coronavirus fears, but others specifically stating that they are sitting out so they can focus their attention on social justice activism.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lebron-launches-new-media-empire-with-100m-investment-intends-to-move-the-culture">LeBron Launches New Media Empire With $100M Investment, Intends To ‘Move The Culture’</a>
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NBA Experience

NBA To Paint ‘Black Lives Matter’ On Sides Of Disney Courts, Allow Players To Put Social Justice Messages On Jerseys

Black Lives Matter

Defund The Police

Social Justice

Walt Disney World and Disneyland theme parks are slated to re-open to the public in just a few short weeks, but at least one iconic ride, Splash Mountain, may be off-limits to visitors until the park completes a full renovation, replacing the ride&#8217;s &#8220;controversial&#8217; subject matter.
Splash Mountain is a narrative log flume-style ride that currently takes visitors on a tour of the Briar Patch, home to Brer Rabbit and other traditional African-American folk characters, some of whom the Walt Disney company&#8217;s animation studios immortalized in the early-1940s film, &#8220;Song of the South.&#8221;
Now, Disney says, it&#8217;s time for the ride to get a makeover, and it will soon close to be &#8220;re-imagined&#8221; as a new experience featuring characters from the New Orleans-set Disney animated film, &#8220;The Princess and the Frog.&#8221;
&#8220;Splash Mountain has been a mainstay at Disney parks since its creation in 1989. The new changes to the ride will be implemented at Disneyland park in California and Magic Kingdom park in Florida,&#8221; <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/25/media/splash-mountain-disney/index.html">CNN reported Thursday</a>.
Thursday&#8217;s &#8220;move comes amid fans urging Disney to retheme Splash Mountain because of the racial stereotypes from the film it is based upon. &#8216;Song of the South&#8217; — which is best known for the song &#8216;Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah&#8217; — has long been criticized for its stereotypical and offensive portrayals of African Americans as well as a romanticized view of the antebellum South,&#8221; <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/25/media/splash-mountain-disney/index.html">CNN explained</a>.
The ride originally had no theme; the &#8220;Song of the South&#8221; characters were added later, as well as the ride&#8217;s finale song &#8220;Zip-a-Dee-Do-Dah (Wonderful Day),&#8221; which plays just as riders are cast out over a waterfall, and also features prominently across the Disney properties.
The ride&#8217;s theme has always been controversial, particularly given that Disney pulled plans to release &#8220;Song of the South&#8221; on home video in the United States in the early 1980s, well before the Splash Mountain ride ever debuted. Screeners of the film were, at one time, available in Europe and Asia, but Disney has struggled with whether to allow Americans to own copies of the film and it is not available on the animation company&#8217;s proprietary screening platform, Disney+.
In 2020, then-Disney CEO Bob Iger said the film was simply &#8220;not appropriate in today&#8217;s world.&#8221;
After the death of George Floyd, a black man who perished while in the custody of the Minneapolis Police Department, and a subsequent nationwide movement to address systemic racism, Disney fans circulated a petition asking the company to re-theme the ride &#8212; and even proposed the &#8220;Princess and the Frog&#8221; theme.
&#8220;While the ride is considered a beloved classic, its history and storyline are steeped in extremely problematic and stereotypical racist tropes,&#8221; reads the petition, available on Change.org. &#8220;There is a huge need for diversity in the parks and this could help fill that need.&#8221;
The refurbished ride will pick up where the &#8220;Princess and the Frog&#8221; movie ends. Disney has not said when Splash Mountain will reopen, only that their Imagineers are in the early stages of redeveloping the ride.
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

Splash Mountain

Disney Will Re-Imagine Controversial Splash Mountain Ride, Re-Theme With ‘Princess And The Frog’

Racism

Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, announced Wednesday that it plans to reopen its Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom theme parks as early as July 11, but guests will find a host of changes to their &#8220;Disney experience.&#8221;
According to <a href="https://www.orlandosentinel.com/coronavirus/jobs-economy/os-bz-coronavirus-disney-seaworld-reopening-plans-20200527-m2wfkypbbbfzvmrykwlafu4voy-story.html">the Orlando Sentinel</a>, which has catalogued Disney&#8217;s woes since the company was forced to shutter its theme parks across the globe back in March, Disney released a plan Wednesday that has some of its parks opening as early as July 11th, just over a month away, with others, including EPCOT and Disney Hollywood Studios, opening some time later, coronavirus permitting.
Disney Springs, a non-theme park attraction at Disney World featuring mostly dining and retail, is already open to visitors.
The Magic Kingdom is Disney World&#8217;s central park, but Disney Hollywood Studios, home to the Star Wars-themed &#8220;Galaxy&#8217;s Edge&#8221; attraction, is currently the World&#8217;s biggest draw. Disney&#8217;s plan allows for the company to make a controlled roll out, implementing anti-virus policies that have worked in Disney parks in Asia (most of which are now fully open), with time to tweak them to serve a largely American consumer base.
Disney World guests will also be required to wear masks, and Disney says it is making no exceptions.
“We have strong language,” Jim McPhee, Senior Vice President of Operations at Walt Disney World, told the Sentinel about Disney&#8217;s new face-coverings policy. “They say they are required.”
The parks will also feature &#8220;social distancing squads,&#8221; &#8220;high energy&#8221; groups of cast members charged with enforcing strict social distancing. Guests will also be required to make reservations for park entry times, as the parks will be enforcing &#8220;attendance limits,&#8221; and will have to submit to temperature checks when entering.
Parades and other special events are suspended.
Disney parks around the world have been closed for at least ten weeks, leaving the company facing a possible $21 billion revenue loss from their themed attractions alone, <a href="https://www.ocregister.com/2020/05/04/disney-theme-parks-face-21-billion-coronavirus-loss-through-2022-analysts-warn/">according to the Orange County Register</a>. &#8220;To put that mind-boggling loss into perspective, &#8221; the paper notes, &#8220;that’s enough to pay for Shanghai Disneyland four times over. Disney’s $5.5 billion Chinese theme park resort opened in 2016.&#8221;
In Florida, the park closures have a human cost. &#8220;Disney is the region’s largest employer and the company’s self-initiated shutdown on March 16 left tens of thousands out of work,&#8221; the Orland Sentinel says. &#8220;Unemployment in Osceola County is the highest in the state at 20.3%, while 16.5% of workers in Orange County are without jobs.&#8221;
Disney parks in Asia have already reopened, though with similar, strict, anti-coronavirus measures. Disneyland in Anaheim, California, will be allowed to reopen when that state reaches &#8220;stage 3&#8221; of its coronavirus recovery plan.
Other Orlando, Florida, theme parks, like Universal Studios and Sea World, say they will follow Disney&#8217;s lead in reopening and have signed on to Disney&#8217;s rollout plan, with certain changes. Universal Studios will require all guests over age 2 to wear masks, and Sea World will require visitors to undergo mandatory temperature checks. Both parks will open sooner than Disney World, likely on June 11.
The theme parks&#8217; plans are not yet final. Gov. Ron DeSantis must sign off in order for Disney to reopen.

Walt Disney

Disney Announces Plans To Re-Open Theme Parks Next Month, Face Masks Required

Coronavirus

Disney World

Disney has taken a whopping $1.4 billion hit on its net income for the first quarter of 2020 largely because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Disney reported its finances for the first three months of the year ending on Tuesday, according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/disney-completes-buy-of-foxs-entertainment-assets-11553074200">The Wall Street Journal</a>. Income for the world’s largest entertainment company fell 91% from the last quarter of 2019 to $475 million; earnings plummeting because of the outbreak of the coronavirus, subsequent government shutdowns, and a continuing consolidation of assets gained in its 2019 acquisition of 21st Century Fox.
&#8220;While the COVID-19 pandemic has had an appreciable financial impact on a number of our businesses, we are confident in our ability to withstand this disruption and emerge from it in a strong position,&#8221; Disney CEO Bob Chapek said in a <a href="https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/the-walt-disney-company-reports-second-quarter-and-six-months-earnings-for-fiscal-2020/">statement</a>. &#8220;Disney has repeatedly shown that it is exceptionally resilient, bolstered by the quality of our storytelling and the strong affinity consumers have for our brands, which is evident in the extraordinary response to Disney+ since its launch last November.&#8221;
Disney also announced on Tuesday that to save money, it is not paying dividends to investors for the first half of the year. Despite the savings, the company’s third fiscal quarter from April to June is likely to look even bleaker with the full effects of government shutdowns in the U.S. accounted for.
&#8220;By not issuing a semi-annual dividend, the Company will preserve about $1.6 billion in cash, based on the 88 cents a share previously paid to shareholders in January,&#8221; Disney said in a <a href="https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/the-walt-disney-company-board-decides-to-forgo-next-semi-annual-cash-dividend/">statement</a>.
The company owns some of the most successful movie franchises and operates six popular theme parks in California and Florida, and six more located internationally in China, France, Hong Kong, and Japan. Disney has already furloughed 100,000 of its employees and faces a daunting challenge overcoming shutdowns, and then adapting to a post-pandemic world.
Disney is just one example of the extensive economic toll the coronavirus and government shutdowns have taken on the U.S. economy. Last week, the Department of Labor reported that 3.8 million more workers have filed for unemployment insurance, bringing the total number of jobless since the outbreak of the coronavirus to above 30 million, or roughly 20% of the U.S. workforce. The unemployment rate is likely the highest it has been since the Great Depression.
As <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/unemployment-tops-30-million-as-coronavirus-crisis-crests">The Daily Wire</a> reported at the time:
<blockquote>The jobless news came a day after the Commerce Department announced the U.S. economy shrank at a 4.8% annual rate in the first quarter as the coronavirus pandemic prompted states to shut down businesses.
After the longest economic expansion in history under President Trump, the gross domestic product (GDP) posted a quarterly drop for the first time in six years, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. The GDP measures the total output of goods and services in the economy.</blockquote>
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

Disneyland in Anaheim, CA

Disney Reports Devastating Hit In Income

COVID-19

It&#8217;s a small world, after all.
While some people have been forced to shelter in place in tiny studio apartments, one man decided to self-isolate on an island in the shut-down Walt Disney World theme park in Orlando, Florida.
&#8220;Orange County Sheriff’s deputies found Richard McGuire on Disney’s Discovery Island on Thursday,&#8221; The <a href="https://apnews.com/1477395d92120263106c07ca9aeeb7a0">Associated Press</a> reported. &#8220;He said he’d been there since Monday or Tuesday and had planned to camp there for a week, according to an arrest report.&#8221;
<blockquote>The 42-year-old said he didn’t hear numerous deputies searching the private island for him on foot, by boat and by air because he was asleep in a building. He told the deputy he didn’t know it was a restricted area, despite there being numerous “no trespassing” signs.
“Richard stated that he was unaware of that and that it looked like a tropical paradise,” according to the arrest report.</blockquote>
The episode began when a security official for Disney said she saw McGuire using a company boat on Thursday to head to the island, previously called Discovery Island. The island had once been the site of a zoological and conservation park before it was closed to the public in 1999.
Orange County Marine deputies on Bay Lake said they repeatedly used a public address system to tell McGuire he was not allowed to be on the island.
McGuire was arrested and charged with trespassing. He posted bond on Friday and has a scheduled court hearing in June, according to the court clerk&#8217;s office, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/03/us/disney-island-camping-coronavirus-arrest-trnd/index.html">CNN</a> reported.
Walt Disney World and other Disneyland parks have all been closed since the coronavirus outbreak spread across the U.S. Walt Disney World resort shut down and furloughed some 43,000 employees.
Americans are beginning to get restless amid the coronavirus lockdown. In Texas, a park ranger was shoved into as he was telling park goers to adhere to social distancing rules.
The whole thing was caught on tape, with the ranger telling a group of parkgoers in Austin to &#8220;maintain six feet of distance from each other.  &#8220;I got you, man&#8221; one parkgoer says, just before another steps up and shoves the ranger into the water. &#8220;Oh s***,&#8221; exclaims a woman. The pusher, who also fell into the water, is then seen climbing out and runs off.
The shover was identified by police as Brandon Hicks, 25, after he was quickly arrested, the local <a href="https://www.kxan.com/news/crime/video-surfaces-of-park-ranger-pushed-into-lake-austin-suspect-arrested/">NBC affiliate</a> reported.
<blockquote>According to the arrested affidavit, police responded to the call around 4:54 p.m. Thursday and were sent to Commons Ford Park. The ranger reported he had been trying to disperse a crowd of people who were unlawfully smoking and drinking in the park, police say.
“Brandon’s intentional and reckless action could have caused the Ranger to strike his head on the dock as he was falling, and render himself unconscious in at least 3 feet of water where he could have drowned to death,” the affidavit said.
The person who took the cell phone video of the incident said they were glad the person got in trouble for pushing the park ranger.
“The park ranger was actually being really sweet and understanding before,” they said.</blockquote>
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Walt Disney World Resort Celebrates 45th Anniversary to Colorful Fanfare

Man Arrested Trying to Quarantine on Private Disney Island

Progressive activist and heiress Abigail Disney, daughter of Roy Disney and grand-niece of Walt Disney, slammed the company for dishing out executive bonuses and protecting dividends for more than $1.5 billion while cutting employee pay and furloughing others during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a lengthy Twitter post on Tuesday, Abigail Disney shared an <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/db574838-0f40-41ce-9bcd-75039f8cb288">article</a> from the Financial Times reporting that the company stopped paying 100,000 workers to save $500 million a month. She mostly took issue with executives retaining bonuses during the pandemic.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve been holding my tongue on the theory that a pandemic is no time to be calling people out on anything other than failing us in a public health sense. I thought it might be a moment for peace and reconciliation,&#8221; she began.
&#8220;WHAT THE ACTUAL F***????? Look, dividends aren&#8217;t ALL bad, given the number of fixed income folks who rely on them,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;But still 80% of shares are owned by the wealthiest 10%. So that excuse only goes so far. But the REAL outrage is, of course, those bonuses. All 1.5 billion of them. 1.5 BILLION. That&#8217;d pay for three months&#8217; salary to front line workers. And it&#8217;s going to people who have already been collecting egregious bonuses for years.”
According to the Financial Times, the company “protected incentive schemes, which account for most of the executives’ remuneration,” with the latest package being &#8220;more than 900 times that of the median Disney worker’s earnings, which stands at about $52,000.&#8221;
Abigail Disney called on the company to &#8220;do better&#8221; even in the face of what is arguably an “existential” threat to their business. Responding to those who would say that the bonus structure was to incentivize good management, Abigail said that the company&#8217;s current crisis is largely due to mismanagement over the past few years.
&#8220;If a bonus reflects performance, we might want to claw back some of those millions given how they&#8217;ve managed cash,&#8221; she said. “Between March 31, 2018 and June 30 of 2019, the company made $11.5 billion of stock buybacks. ELEVEN. POINT. FIVE. BILLION. Now no one could have foreseen this crisis. That is an absolutely fair thing to say.&#8221;
&#8220;But ANYONE, could have anticipated SOME crisis,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;That&#8217;s one of the things responsible managers do. And good, solid, competent management is why they get the &#8216;big bucks&#8217; we are told. But those buybacks are beginning to look pretty self-indulgent right now.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
OK, I&#39;ve been holding my tongue on the theory that a pandemic is no time to be calling people out on anything other than failing us in a public health sense. I thought it might be a moment for peace and reconciliation. But I feel a thread coming on&#8230;.1/ <a href="https://t.co/G1mUq7RmAV">https://t.co/G1mUq7RmAV</a>
&mdash; Abigail Disney (@abigaildisney) <a href="https://twitter.com/abigaildisney/status/1252665806334410752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Abigail Disney <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/disney-heiress-blasts-theme-parks-alleged-working-paul-bois">has been critical</a> of the company&#8217;s alleged mismanagement of labor in the past. Last July, after going undercover at Disney theme parks, she ripped the company for not paying its workers enough. Prior to that, she publicly scolded Disney CEO Bob Iger for taking an &#8220;insane&#8221; salary.
“Let me very clear. I like Bob Iger. I do NOT speak for my family but only for myself,” Abigail said in a viral Twitter thread. “Other than owning shares (not that many) I have no more say in what happens there than anyone else. But by any objective measure a pay ratio over a thousand is insane.”
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">subscriber</a>.

Key Speakers At The 2019 Milken Conference

Disney Heiress Blasts Company Allegedly Dishing Out Executive Bonuses While Cutting Pay

Abigail Disney

The upcoming scheduled live-stream of Celebrating 25 Magical Years Of Disney On Broadway, a multi-million dollar benefit concert featuring the pre-recorded November 2019 performance of a Disney-focused Broadway show, has been cancelled after the musicians’ union refused to grant the charity streaming rights to the performance.
Broadway News reports that the nonprofit organization Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS planned to hold the <a href="https://broadwaynews.com/2020/03/17/broadway-cares-equity-fights-aids-launches-1-million-campaign/">benefit stream</a> as part of their COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund, a new initiative to provide financial assistance to people in the performing arts and entertainment industry amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
The pre-recorded charity performance, which was set to stream on Monday, <a href="https://donate.broadwaycares.org/campaign/covid-19-emergency-assistance-fund/c276873">raised</a> nearly $2 million as of Saturday morning, including 15 Broadway producers who were prepared to collectively match donations up to $1 million.
But according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/11/theater/broadway-cares-disney-fund-raiser-blocked-coronavirus.html">The New York Times</a>, the benefit live-stream will no longer go on as planned. While two unions representing the show’s cast were already in agreement with the charity to allow the live-stream to take place, the American Federation of Musicians, the lone holdout, has derailed the event.
In an email about the event, an executive to the union told Disney that they were treating the musicians like “slaves,” reports the news agency. In an official statement, the American Federation of Musicians blasted Disney Theatrical for refusing to pay the musicians for the rights to air the livestream.
“During the height of this crisis, Disney Theatrical has come to us asking to stream media content without payment to the musicians involved in the production,” said the statement, reports The Times. “Especially now, with zero employment in the entertainment sector, the content producers should care enough about the welfare of those who originally performed the show to see to it that they are fairly compensated when their work is recorded and streamed throughout the world.”
The charity told the news agency that they couldn&#8217;t afford to pay the musicians, and argued that they had already donated to musician-related causes. Disney Theatrical has also pushed back against the accusations, saying that the charity Broadway Cares was requesting the rights to stream the show for free, not Disney Theatrical itself.
“Disney wholeheartedly supported the request from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS to AFM to waive fees for this fund-raiser, just as many unions and guilds had happily agreed to do,” Disney Theatrical told The Times. “It’s disappointing that in this case, due to AFM’s decision, much-needed funds will not be raised.”
According to <a href="https://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/25-magical-years-of-disney-on-broadway-cast_89862.html">Theatre Mania</a>, the original performance back in November was also a charity benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and featured hits from Disney classics such as Mary Poppins, and newer fare including Aladdin and Frozen.
As <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kennedy-center-agrees-to-pay-orchestra-after-lawmakers-move-to-rescind-bailout">The Daily Wire</a> previously reported, the American Federation of Musicians took center stage in the public spotlight after they spoke out against the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which furloughed the symphony orchestra after the federal stimulus bill was passed.
The stimulus provided $25 million for the Kennedy Center to pay for maintenance, deep cleaning, and teleworking projects after they cancelled the upcoming concert season. The center, which is federally funded, has since struck a deal with the musicians’ union to continue paying the orchestra amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

New York, Manhattan, Broadway street sign, close-up

Disney-Themed Charity Event Derailed By Musicians Union’s Demands

Broadway

Charity

On Wednesday, Disney Parks released a <a href="https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2020/04/disney-parks-donates-supplies-to-hospitals-and-medical-professionals/">blog post</a> stating that the company has donated medical supplies, such as N95 masks, to several states, including New York, which has become the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United states.
The post, penned by Disney Parks Editorial Content Director Thomas Smith states in part:
<blockquote>In response to requests from hospitals that are in need of additional protective garments and medical-related supplies, Disney Parks has donated 150,000 rain ponchos to <a href="https://www.medshare.org/">MedShare</a>, a humanitarian aid organization, for distribution to hospitals in need. The idea was inspired by nurses across the country who inventively found that rain ponchos can be an excellent way to protect their clothing and prolong the use of PPE, while also freeing up gowns when needed &#8230; Disney Parks also recently donated more than 100,000 N95 masks to the states of New York, California and Florida, and is finding additional ways to give back.</blockquote>
The statement continues, noting that Disney parks from around the world have also donated “270 tons of food to local food banks,” and that “Disneyland Paris donated more than 100,000 medical supplies, including masks, hygiene caps and protective shoes to the French government for distribution to hospitals in France.”
MedShare CEO Charles Redding responded to Disney’s donations, stating in part: “We appreciate Disney partnering with us to support hospitals and healthcare workers on the frontlines.”
These donations come as New York has been hammered by COVID-19, with a peak resource usage predicted to take place sometime in the next <a href="https://covid19.healthdata.org/projections">8 to 14 days</a>.
Over the last two weeks, New York has been preparing for the apex of the illness.
The Army Corps of Engineers has <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/army-helps-make-temporary-hospital-yorks-javits-center/story?id=69845568">erected</a> a 1,200-bed temporary field hospital in Manhattan’s Javits Convention Center with the capacity of expanding to as many as 2,910 beds.
Samaritan&#8217;s Purse, which has “partnered with New York’s Mount Sinai Health System,” according to <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/03/31/coronavirus-central-park-hospital-treat-new-york-city-patients/5094590002/">USA Today</a>, has set up a field hospital in Central Park with ten ventilators and a 68-bed capacity. The hospital “will prioritize moving overflow patients from the Brooklyn and Queens Mount Sinai branches so they can resume respiratory care treatment.”
On Monday, the Naval hospital ship USNS Comfort <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/03/30/823826987/hospital-ship-usns-comfort-arrives-in-new-york-to-ease-coronavirus-pressure">docked</a> in New York’s Pier 88. The ship has approximately 1,000 beds, and will take admissions of cases not related to COVID-19 in order to relieve pressure from New York City hospitals.
COVID-19, which originated in China’s Hubei province, has infected over 921,900 people worldwide, and led to more than 46,250 deaths, <a href="https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6">according to data</a> from Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) Global Cases map. 192,964 people have recovered.
In the United States, there have been more than 206,200 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and over 4,500 deaths. As of publication, 8,413 individuals have recovered from the virus.
According to the New York State <a href="https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/county-county-breakdown-positive-cases">website</a>, there have been 83,712 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/nyregion/coronavirus-new-york-update.html">1,941 deaths</a>. In New York City alone, there have been over 44,900 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 1,139 deaths.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-resident-and-other-med-tv-shows-donate-their-stock-of-personal-protective-equipment-to-hospitals-fire-stations">‘The Resident’ And Other Med TV Shows Donate Their Stock Of Personal Protective Equipment To Hospitals, Fire Stations</a>

Over 100,000 N95 Masks, Other Supplies, Donated By Disney Parks To Help During Crisis

New York

Hours after Disneyland resort announced their coronavirus-related closure, Disney announced they are closing Walt Disney World, the company&#8217;s Orlando, Florida, theme park resort, as well.
According to a statement from a Disney spokesperson, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Paris Resort will shutter on March 15, lasting until the end of the month.
&#8220;In an abundance of caution and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of our theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Paris Resort, beginning at the close of business on Sunday, March 15, through the end of the month,&#8221; the spokesperson said, according to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/12/media/disney-world-close-coronavirus/index.html">CNN</a>.
Earlier in the day, The Walt Disney Company released a statement announcing the closure of Disneyland for this Friday.
&#8220;As a result of the growing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Disneyland Resort, including Disneyland and Disney California Adventure is closing to guests on Friday, effective immediately,&#8221; the statement read.
Disney noted that there have not been any reported cases of coronavirus at Disneyland Resort. Still, the company felt the need to move forward with the closure &#8220;after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the Governor of California’s executive order&#8221; and serving &#8220;in the best interests of our guests and employees.&#8221;
&#8220;The hotels of Disneyland Resort will remain open until Monday march 16, to give guests the ability to make necessary travel arrangements; Downtown Disney will remain open,&#8221; Disney informed guests. &#8220;We will monitor the ongoing situation and follow the advice and guidelines of federal and state officials and health agencies. Disney will continue to pay cast members during this time.&#8221;
The company promised to work with folks who wish to change or cancel their visits: &#8220;Disneyland Resort will work with guests who wish to change or cancel their visits, and will provide refunds to those who have hotel bookings during this closure period,&#8221; the statement outlined. &#8220;We anticipate heavy call volume over the next several days and appreciate guests’ patience as we work hard to respond to all inquiries.&#8221;
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump addressed the nation with concern to the coronavirus, specifically notifying Americans about actions being taken by the government for containment, such as a travel ban from Europe to the United States.
In a <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2020/03/11/homeland-security-acting-secretary-chad-f-wolf-s-statement-presidential-proclamation">release</a> from the Department of Homeland Security posted Wednesday, it was specified that the ban would apply to &#8220;most foreign nationals who have been in certain European countries at any point during the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival to the United States,&#8221; and expressly exclude &#8220;legal permanent residents&#8221;:
<blockquote>Today President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation, which suspends the entry of most foreign nationals who have been in certain European countries at any point during the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival to the United States. These countries, known as the Schengen Area, include: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. This does not apply to legal permanent residents, (generally) immediate family members of U.S. citizens, and other individuals who are identified in the proclamation.</blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-disneyland-shuts-down-because-of-coronavirus">Disneyland Shuts Down Because of Coronavirus</a>

The Cinderella Castle during an overcast day is seen in the

Disney World Closing Down Due To Coronavirus

Disneyland

Multiple Middle Eastern markets have banned the Disney/Pixar animated movie &#8220;Onward&#8221; for featuring an explicitly lesbian character.
&#8220;Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have all banned the film due to the reference,&#8221; reports <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/03/disney-onward-banned-multiple-middle-east-markets-lesbian-lgbt-reference-1202876168/">Deadline</a>. &#8220;The film, released regionally this week, is nowhere to be seen on cinema schedules in those territories. Other Middle East markets such as Bahrain, Lebanon and Egypt are showing the film.&#8221;
Last month, after Disney successfully kept it under wraps, reports surfaced that &#8220;Onward&#8221; would be breaking new ground by being the first animated movie to feature an openly LGBTQ character voiced by Lena Waithe. The character is reportedly a lesbian police officer whose sexuality gets explicitly pointed out in the movie as opposed to just being implied, such as the alleged lesbian couple in “Finding Dory” or the “exclusively gay moment” in the “Beauty and the Beast” live-action remake.
Here’s how <a href="https://slate.com/culture/2020/02/pixar-onward-exclusively-gay-moment-mission-accomplished.html">Slate</a> described the moment:
<blockquote>
But we don’t need to speculate about Waithe’s Officer Spector. We know because she tells us. When she and her partner, voiced by Ali Wong, pull over a driver who claims he was distracted because his girlfriend’s sons have been acting up, she commiserates, “My girlfriend’s daughter got me pulling my hair out.”
That line isn’t the point of the scene. In fact, it goes by so fast you could barely notice it. But that’s why it works so well. The film doesn’t pause to let it sink in or isolate the moment with a cut for emphasis. It passes unremarked, because in this world, it’s accepted as a fact of life. Some babies have two daddies, and some babies have two mommies, even if those mommies happen to be centaurs or elves.
</blockquote>
Russia, a country known for censoring LGBT content in movies, switched out the word &#8220;girlfriend&#8221; for &#8220;partner.&#8221;
Though &#8220;Onward&#8221; has been banned in certain Middle Eastern markets, Disney has occasionally obliged censorship demands in those countries, such as when the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lesbian-kiss-in-rise-of-skywalker-cut-for-middle-east-release">lesbian kiss was edited out</a> of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker&#8221; this past December.
The inclusion of Waithe’s character comes amid a wave of LGBT representation at Disney via the studio’s various intellectual properties and distribution platforms. In just a few months, Marvel’s “The Eternals” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/marvels-the-eternals-will-feature-franchises-first-gay-onscreen-kiss">will be breaking new ground</a> by not only featuring the first openly gay superhero, but also the franchise’s first gay kiss.
“It’s a beautiful, very moving kiss,” said actor Haaz Sleiman. “Everyone cried on set. For me, it’s very important to show how loving and beautiful a queer family can be. Brian Tyree Henry is such a tremendous actor and brought so much beauty into this part, and at one point I saw a child in his eyes, and I think it’s important for the world to be reminded that we in the queer community were all children at one point. We forget that because we’re always depicted as sexual or rebellious. We forget to connect on that human part.”
LGBTQ representation at Disney started in 2014 on the show “Good Luck Charlie,” <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/good-luck-charlie-lesbians_n_4675943">which featured</a> a lesbian mom couple.
“In the storyline, parents Amy and Bob Duncan (Leigh-Allyn Baker and Eric Allan Kramer) set up a playdate for preschooler Charlie (Mia Talerico) and one of her new friends,” TV Guide reported at the time. “When the kid arrives, the Duncans learn that Charlie’s pal has two moms. That’s fine, but the potential new friendship is put to the test as one mom chats with Amy, and the other is stuck listening to Bob’s dull stories.”

UK Premiere Of Disney And Pixar&#8217;s &#8220;Onward&#8221;

Disney’s ‘Onward’ Banned In Middle East Over Lesbian Character

Middle East

Onward movie

Pixar

As Meghan Markle and Prince Harry make their exit as senior members of the royal family, a recent <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8060475/Its-Meghan-Marvel-Duchess-Sussex-tells-agent-role-Hollywood-superhero.html">report from the Daily Mail</a> alleges that the Duchess of Sussex has asked her agent to seek for her a superhero blockbuster movie to star in.
&#8220;Meghan&#8217;s agent, Nick Collins, of Hollywood&#8217;s formidable Gersh Agency, has been busy fielding offers,&#8221; the outlet reported on Saturday.
The source told the Daily Mail that Markle told Nick Collins to seek out an ensemble role &#8220;in something like a superhero film.&#8221; Collins has reportedly told studios that Markle is available and open to the best offers. As to why she has asked for an ensemble role in a superhero movie, the source said that she understands audiences would never be able to accept her in a starring role, arguing that an ensemble piece in a large movie would be a smart way to ingratiate herself to them.
&#8220;Meghan is planning a series of meetings in Hollywood,&#8221; the source said. &#8220;She has already done the voiceover for Disney and now word is out that she&#8217;s looking for a superhero film, as a voiceover or even on screen. She knows she can&#8217;t carry a film as an actress. People won&#8217;t be able to get past the fact she&#8217;s Meghan Markle. But she&#8217;s determined to act again and she thinks a big, ensemble film is the way to go &#8230; something that pays big but which doesn&#8217;t put her front and centre.&#8221;
&#8220;Pretty much every A-list actress including Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Alba, Margot Robbie, Jennifer Lawrence and Halle Berry have starred in superhero movies,&#8221; the source continued. &#8220;There used to be a certain stigma attached to Marvel films but now they are the biggest market in the world. That&#8217;s what Meghan wants.&#8221;
The report that Meghan Markle is seeking to revive her acting career in the wake of her and Harry&#8217;s split with the royal family comes weeks <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-new-video-shows-prince-harry-meghan-markle-pitching-voiceover-work-to-disney-director-jon-favreau">after video surfaced</a> of Prince Harry asking former Disney CEO Bob Iger to enlist her voiceover talents in exchange for a donation to charity.
“You know she does voiceovers,” Harry told Iger at “The Lion King” premiere last July.
“Oh, really?” responded Iger.
“Did you know that?” Harry added. “You seem surprised. … She’s really interested.”
“Sure,” said Iger. “We’d love to try.”
Meghan Markle was hired by Disney to do some voiceover work in exchange for a charitable donation to Elephants Without Borders. Upon her and Harry&#8217;s historic announcement to carve out a more &#8220;progressive&#8221; role for themselves in the royal family as they pursue a life in North America, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/netflixs-ted-sarandos-interested-prince-harry-meghan-markle-deal-1271376">expressed interest</a> in collaborating with the duke and duchess of Sussex for a project.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle&#8217;s plans for a clean break were somewhat dampened recently when Queen Elizabeth forced the couple to drop their desired brand name and trademark “Sussex Royal.” Though the couple will still be allowed to keep their HRH titles, they will be barred from using the word royal.
“While The Duke and Duchess are focused on plans to establish a new non-profit organisation, given the specific UK Government rules surrounding use of the word Royal, it has been therefore agreed that their non-profit organisation, when it is announced this Spring, will not be named Sussex Royal Foundation,”<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/queen-win-harry-and-meghan-forced-to-drop-branding-name-trademark-applications-removed-markle-upset"> the couple said in a statement</a> via spokeswoman. “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use ‘Sussex Royal’ in any territory post Spring 2020. Therefore, the trademark applications that were filed as protective measures, acting on advice from and following the same model for the Royal Foundation, have been removed.”

BRITAIN-ROYALS

REPORT: Meghan Markle Asked Agent To Seek Her A Superhero Blockbuster Movie Role

Hollywood

Meghan Markle

Prince Harry

Disney&#8217;s Pixar will be breaking revolutionary ground on March 6 with the release of &#8220;Onward&#8221; – the studio&#8217;s first animated movie to feature an openly LGBTQ character.
The character, voiced by Lena Waithe, will be a lesbian police officer whose sexuality will be explicitly pointed out in the movie as opposed to just being implied, such as the alleged lesbian couple in &#8220;Finding Dory&#8221; or the &#8220;exclusively gay moment&#8221; in the &#8220;Beauty and the Beast&#8221; live-action remake.
According to <a href="https://slate.com/culture/2020/02/pixar-onward-exclusively-gay-moment-mission-accomplished.html">Slate</a>, Pixar has largely kept the reveal of Waithe&#8217;s character under wraps by not making a huge media splash about it, opting instead to have it leaked slowly through varying reports. Here&#8217;s how the reveal unfolded:
<blockquote>
There’s a lesbian character in Onward, a police officer voiced by Lena Waithe, but the most revolutionary thing that Pixar has done in advance of the movie’s release is not tell anyone about it. A day before the review embargo on the movie lifted, the closest thing to a relevant search result was a Reddit post from a user with the subject &#8216;<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/lgbt/comments/dg4wr9/im_surprised_more_people_arent_talking_about_this/">possible lesbian couple in Pixar’s Onward??&#8217; </a>featuring an ambiguous-at-best screenshot from the movie’s trailer&#8230;
</blockquote>
That being said, the inclusion of Waithe&#8217;s character will probably satisfy nobody who truly craves total representation in the LGBT community, being that Waithe&#8217;s moment of explicit lesbianism is a brief, throwaway line of little consequence:
<blockquote>
But we don’t need to speculate about Waithe’s Officer Spector. We know because she tells us. When she and her partner, voiced by Ali Wong, pull over a driver who claims he was distracted because his girlfriend’s sons have been acting up, she commiserates, “My girlfriend’s daughter got me pulling my hair out.”
That line isn’t the point of the scene. In fact, it goes by so fast you could barely notice it. But that’s why it works so well. The film doesn’t pause to let it sink in or isolate the moment with a cut for emphasis. It passes unremarked, because in this world, it’s accepted as a fact of life. Some babies have two daddies, and some babies have two mommies, even if those mommies happen to be centaurs or elves.
</blockquote>
The inclusion of Waithe&#8217;s character comes amid a wave of LGBT representation at Disney via the studio&#8217;s various intellectual properties and distribution platforms. In just a few months, Marvel&#8217;s &#8220;The Eternals&#8221; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/marvels-the-eternals-will-feature-franchises-first-gay-onscreen-kiss">will be breaking new ground</a> by not only featuring the first openly gay superhero, but also the franchise&#8217;s first gay kiss.
“It’s a beautiful, very moving kiss,” said actor Haaz Sleiman. “Everyone cried on set. For me, it’s very important to show how loving and beautiful a queer family can be. Brian Tyree Henry is such a tremendous actor and brought so much beauty into this part, and at one point I saw a child in his eyes, and I think it’s important for the world to be reminded that we in the queer community were all children at one point. We forget that because we’re always depicted as sexual or rebellious. We forget to connect on that human part.”

BET Presents The 51st NAACP Image Awards &#8211; Red Carpet

Disney’s Animated Movie ‘Onward’ To Feature First Explicitly LGBTQ Character

LGBTQ

On Wednesday, Walt Disney Company heiress and Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker Abigail Disney weighed in on the death of NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, who was killed on Sunday along with his 13-year-old daughter and seven other people in a helicopter crash, tweeting, “I haven&#8217;t said anything about Kobe so far because I felt some time needed to pass&#8230; The man was a rapist. Deal with it.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I haven’t said anything about Kobe so far because I felt some time needed to pass before weighing in. But yes, it’s time for the sledgehammer to come out. The man was a rapist. Deal with it. <a href="https://t.co/9jfZHSqnnQ">https://t.co/9jfZHSqnnQ</a>
&mdash; Abigail Disney (@abigaildisney) <a href="https://twitter.com/abigaildisney/status/1222515037971079168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Disney was responding to an <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/remembering-kobe-bryant-is-complicated-but-felicia-sonmez-kept-both-eyes-on-the-truth/2020/01/28/de687214-41f0-11ea-aa6a-083d01b3ed18_story.html">op-ed</a> in The Washington Post on Tuesday by David Von Drehle titled, “Remembering Kobe Bryant required the hammer of truth” in which Von Drehle defended his colleague Felicia Sonmez, who was temporarily suspended after she tweeted a link to a report delineating the rape accusation against Bryant from 2003. Von Drehle wrote:
<blockquote>I’ve never met my Post colleague Felicia Sonmez, but I’ve read enough of her work to know that she’s crackerjack. After the crash, she swung a 20-pound sledgehammer at the Bryant story, tweeting a link to a <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/kobe-bryants-disturbing-rape-case-the-dna-evidence-the-accusers-story-and-the-half-confession">detailed report </a>of the highly credible rape accusation lodged against the hard-court hero in 2003. When I say “highly credible,” I mean that Bryant himself admitted that he engaged in rough sex with his accuser, choked her so violently that she had bruises on her jawline and left her with multiple lacerations. In a statement, he acknowledged that he could understand why she thought he had raped her — even though the encounter seemed consensual to him.</blockquote>
Von Drehle continued:
<blockquote>The Twitter response to this truth-telling, so soon after the deaths, was predictably as disgusting as you would expect from the social media dystopia. What sparked controversy was the reaction of Sonmez’s senior editors. Like most media organizations, The Post walks a precarious path between loving and loathing Twitter. On one hand, the platform is an efficient means to promote good work. On the other hand, it’s the digital equivalent of an overflowing septic tank. In this case, the attempt to highlight an important fact in a major story landed the paper smack dab in the sewage. Sonmez was <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/27/business/media/kobe-bryant-washington-post-felicia-sonmez.html">suspended with pay</a> — a decision widely <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/27/media/washington-post-felicia-sonmez-kobe-bryant/index.html">denounced</a> inside the newsroom and beyond. (The Post later reinstated Sonmez on Tuesday.)</blockquote>
Disney was both castigated and defended on Twitter after her tweet on Wednesday. She is not the only quasi-celebrity who has brought up the rape accusation against Bryant; actress Evan Rachel Wood tweeted and later deleted, “I am heartbroken for Kobe&#8217;s family. He was a sports hero. He was also a rapist. And all of these truths can exist simultaneously.” She later issued another tweet in which she began, “What has happened is tragic.”
<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7943219/Abigail-Disney-weighs-Kobe-Bryants-rape-case-past-rapist-Deal-it.html">The Daily Mail</a> noted, “Disney has spoken about being a survivor of sexual assault herself and in the past has expressed how furious she was about hearing MeToo allegations against Harvey Weinstein.”
During the hearings for Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018, Disney <a href="https://twitter.com/abigaildisney/status/1045443376835899392">tweeted</a>,
<blockquote>In all seriousness, let me say this. I feel for Dr. Ford, I have experienced sexual assault. But nothing today has been as triggering for me as the rage and entitlement in this man. I had an angry, alcoholic father. He had an inside face and an outside face.He could make anyone believe he was a lovely, sweet, gentle man. If he&#8217;d been a Federal Judge, I am sure the ABA would have said nice things about him too. He did not rage every day, or about everything. But when he did rage it was terrifying.And generally what would send him into a rage was the same thing that sets off Judge Kavanaugh. Disrespect. Insubordination. Arrogance. Attitude. Entitlement. Disobedience …</blockquote>
&nbsp;

&#8220;Fire Drill Friday&#8221; Climate Change Protest

Disney Heiress Tweets About Kobe: ‘The Man Was A Rapist. Deal With It.’

Kobe Bryant

Prince Harry has not only pitched Meghan Markle&#8217;s voiceover work to Disney CEO Bob Iger, but also to top Disney director Jon Favreau ( of &#8220;The Mandalorian&#8221; fame).
Released on Saturday, new footage obtained by the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7903455/Moment-Prince-Harry-tells-Lion-King-director-Jon-Favreau-wife-available-work.html">Daily Mail </a>shows the duke and duchess of Sussex touting Meghan Markle&#8217;s acting chops while speaking with high-profile celebrities Jon Favreau, Beyoncé, and Jay-Z at a premiere for Disney&#8217;s &#8220;The Lion King.&#8221;
&#8220;If anyone needs any extra voiceover work,&#8221; Harry could be heard beginning to tell Favreau just as Meghan jokingly interrupts to say, &#8220;That&#8217;s really why we&#8217;re here — it&#8217;s the pitch!&#8221;
&#8220;Just not Scar,&#8221; Harry jovially says in reference to the villainous character in &#8220;The Lion King.&#8221;
<iframe title="&#039;She&#039;ll tackle any voiceover just not Scar&#039;: Moment Harry tells Lion King director Jon Favreau" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pUAp9-E3Im8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The recently released footage follows a report from last week which showed Prince Harry speaking to Disney CEO Bob Iger at the same event about Meghan Markle&#8217;s voiceover work.
“You know she does voiceovers,” Harry told Iger at &#8220;The Lion King&#8221; premiere in July.
“Oh, really?” responded Iger.
“Did you know that?” Harry added. “You seem surprised. … She’s really interested.”
“Sure,” said Iger. “We’d love to try.”
Conservative commentator Mark Steyn called it &#8220;the absolute lowest point of the monarchy in the last 100 years.&#8221;
&#8220;I think of all the pathetic things that the Duke of Windsor did after he abdicated when he entertained wealthy Americans and gave them a sort of pseudo glimpse into Royal life,&#8221; Steyn <a href="https://video.foxnews.com/v/6122347498001">told Fox News</a>. &#8220;That&#8217;s nothing like actually touting your wife as available for Lion King 7 or whatever it is.&#8221;
Meghan Markle was hired by Disney to do some voiceover work in exchange for a charitable donation to Elephants Without Borders. Just over the weekend, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/netflixs-ted-sarandos-interested-prince-harry-meghan-markle-deal-1271376">expressed interest</a> in collaborating with the duke and duchess of Sussex for a project.
Over the weekend, Queen Elizabeth II<a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/prince-harry-meghan-markle-give-up-royal-titles-1270934"> unveiled the rather strict terms</a> that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be under as they split from the royal family to pursue a more &#8220;progressive role&#8221; in North America — an act that bars them from being referred to by &#8220;her majesty&#8221; and &#8220;royal highness.&#8221; They were also ordered to repay the money British taxpayers had spent on remodeling their Frogmore Cottage.
&#8220;The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are grateful to Her Majesty and the Royal Family for their ongoing support as they embark on the next chapter of their lives,&#8221; the statement from Buckingham Palace read. &#8220;As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from Royal duties, including official military appointments. They will no longer receive public funds for Royal duties.&#8221;
&#8220;With the queen’s blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations,&#8221; it continued. &#8220;While they can no longer formally represent the queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty. The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family. The duke and duchess of Sussex have shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their U.K. family home.&#8221;

Duke and Duchess of Sussex statement

WATCH: New Video Shows Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Pitching Voiceover Work To Disney Director Jon Favreau

Netflix

Disney is continuing to uphold its reputation as a company hellbent on going after anyone other than itself that may profit from its characters.
The company has a tendency to go after artists who use Disney character likenesses in their art. The latest example of this behavior involves the adorable viral character known as “Baby Yoda” from Disney’s “The Mandalorian.” First, some clarification, the character is not actually Yoda, as the series takes place long after Yoda was born, but it is a juvenile of the same species, which isn’t named in Star Wars lore.
Disney is now targeting Etsy, a website for artists to sell handmade or vintage items. Creators have been going crazy for Baby Yoda, producing everything from crocheted dolls to T-shirts to coffee mugs to <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/745943528/baby-yoda-air-freshener-custom-air?ga_order=most_relevant&amp;ga_search_type=all&amp;ga_view_type=gallery&amp;ga_search_query=baby+yoda&amp;ref=sr_gallery-1-11&amp;organic_search_click=1&amp;frs=1">car air fresheners</a> (it comes in multiple, non-Baby Yoda associated scents, like Pina Colada).
But Disney hates when someone else makes money off of their characters. The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2020/01/17/disney-appears-to-be-cracking-down-on-baby-yoda-knockoffs/">reported</a> that the megacompany is “cracking down” on Etsy for the Star Wars-inspired creations. The Verge <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/17/21069124/baby-yoda-dolls-etsy-disney-mandalorian-copyright-takedown-enforcement">reported</a> that Disney appears to be focusing on the most popular Baby Yoda-inspired products.
“Several Etsy sellers tell The Verge they have had their listings removed, cutting off popular products and disrupting existing sales,” the outlet reported. “One seller, Tanya, who runs the stuffed animal storefront YourStuffedMemories, had been <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1514734&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F750337366%2Fthe-baby-child-baby-alien-plush-star%3Fref%3Dshop_home_active_1%26crt%3D1&amp;referrer=theverge.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theverge.com%2F2020%2F1%2F17%2F21069124%2Fbaby-yoda-dolls-etsy-disney-mandalorian-copyright-takedown-enforcement%3FsubId1%3Dxid%3Afr1579366652276gdf&amp;xcust=xid:fr1579366652276gdf">selling homemade Baby Yoda plushies</a> for about a month when she received a message from Etsy. It had deactivated her sales listing after getting a complaint from Disney over her usage of the words ‘Star Wars,’ ‘mandalorian,’ and ‘Yoda’ to sell the plushies.”
More from The Verge:
<blockquote>Another seller, Kate, had a listing for a Baby Yoda-style dice bag at her HedgeCrafts store removed by Etsy for similar reasons, as did the 1OOAcreWoodshop storefront, which sells knit wool plushies of the character. Most of the stores that The Verge talked to had takedowns issued in the last week.
The original listings for these stores were extremely popular: one Yoda doll had “over 2,000 views and 300 favorites,” while another seller said that she used to see at least 100 to 200 views a day. Removing the listings also caused issues with existing orders for at least one seller, delaying shipments as they tried to reconcile orders in Etsy’s system between the old and new listings. (My own order for a Baby Yoda from YourStuffedMemories was among those delayed.)</blockquote>
The outlet added that the crackdown has occurred since Disney finally started selling its own Baby Yoda products, even though none of those products are actually currently available.
Disney, whose obviously known for their massive merchandise catalogue, was slow to provide Baby Yoda products after the episodes aired and the adorably little creature went viral, as if the company didn’t foresee the popularity.
“It’s a difficult situation for sellers. Baby Yoda (like the terms ‘Star Wars,’ ‘The Mandalorian,’ and ‘Yoda’) is owned by Disney, and the company has the legal right to enforce its intellectual property and prevent others from profiting off its work,” the Verge reported. “But fans have been eager for products Disney isn’t offering, and sellers’ handmade toys can deliver a burst of new customers to Etsy shops that typically sell much lower-profile goods, like stuffed unicorns and wall decorations.”

Baby Yoda

Disney Targeting Etsy Over Baby Yoda Merchandise

Prince Harry can be heard asking Disney CEO Bob Iger about voiceover work for his wife, actress and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, a resurfaced video from July shows, according to <a href="https://people.com/royals/prince-harry-asking-disney-ceo-meghan-markle-voiceover-work/">PEOPLE</a> magazine.
“You know she does voiceovers,” Harry can be heard telling Mr. Iger at the &#8220;Lion King&#8221; premiere in July.
“Oh, really?” responds Iger, standing alongside his wife, who looks taken aback by the interaction.
“Did you know that?” Harry persists. “You seem surprised. &#8230; She’s really interested.”
“Sure,” the Disney CEO agrees. “We’d love to try.”
As noted by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/prince-william-responds-to-harry-and-meghans-royal-split-ive-put-my-arm-around-my-brother-i-cant-do-that-anymore">The Daily Wire</a>, Markle recently signed a deal with Disney to do voiceover work. The deal was inked before the couple dropped a bombshell announcement earlier this week regarding their plans to step away from their royal duties.
According to <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/voiceover-deal-with-disney-hints-at-future-career-path-5sr0jmjvd">The Sunday Times</a> (U.K.), the voiceover from Duchess of Sussex will come in exchange for &#8220;a donation to Elephants Without Borders, an organisation that helps to track and protect the animals from poaching.&#8221;
“[I]t also touches on sensitive areas, allowing room for accusations that the couple are cheapening the royal brand and will compromise themselves for money,&#8221; the U.K. outlet noted. &#8220;According to one report, during tense talks before Christmas, senior members of the royal family accused the couple of already signing a deal with ‘firms including Disney.'&#8221;
Meghan recorded the voiceover &#8220;before the royal couple left for their six-week break to Canada to celebrate Christmas,&#8221; according to <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7875243/Meghan-Markle-signs-voiceover-deal-Disney-return-donation-elephant-charity.html">The Daily Mail</a>.
Harry and Meghan announced their royal split on Wednesday, which was apparently a shock to the Queen.
“Harry and Meghan say they plan to step back as senior members of the British Royal family, and ‘carve out a progressive new role within this institution’ while working ‘to become financially independent,’” NBC News reported.
“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” the couple said in a statement.
“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen,” Harry and Meghan continued. “It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages.”
Over the weekend, Prince William, brother to Harry, reportedly &#8220;said he feels sorrow that he and Prince Harry are now ‘separate entities’ and expressed hope that they might pull together again in future,” The Sunday Times said.
“I’ve put my arm around my brother all our lives and I can’t do that any more; we’re separate entities,” Prince William told a friend.
“I’m sad about that. All we can do, and all I can do, is try and support them and hope that the time comes when we’re all singing from the same page. I want everyone to play on the team,” William added.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
this is the extended version of that clip (audio boosted) with Harry chatting up Disney CEO Bob Iger for a job for Meghan Markle as the Duchess chats up Beyonce and Jay-Z The event was in London on Sunday July 14, 2019. (that look 😲 on Susan Iger&#39;s face ) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Megxit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Megxit</a> <a href="https://t.co/AzqjwsaoUm">pic.twitter.com/AzqjwsaoUm</a>
&mdash; not inklessPW ✩ (@inklessPW) <a href="https://twitter.com/inklessPW/status/1216388926132432896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Britain&#8217;s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (L) chats with Disney CEO Robert Iger as Britain&#8217;s Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (2nd R) embraces US singer-songwriter Beyoncé (R) as they attend the European premiere of the film The Lion King in London on July 14, 2019.

Video Shows Prince Harry Asking Disney CEO About Getting Meghan Voiceover Work

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has signed a deal with Disney to do voiceover work, giving a hint as to the trajectory of her and Prince Harry’s lives now that they&#8217;ve pulled out of being senior members in the British royal family.
Markle will do &#8220;voiceover in return for a donation to Elephants Without Borders, an organisation that helps to track and protect the animals from poaching,&#8221; <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/voiceover-deal-with-disney-hints-at-future-career-path-5sr0jmjvd">The Times</a> reported.
The British tabloid, though, said the move could cause problems.
&#8220;[I]t also touches on sensitive areas, allowing room for accusations that the couple are cheapening the royal brand and will compromise themselves for money. According to one report, during tense talks before Christmas, senior members of the royal family accused the couple of already signing a deal with ‘firms including Disney,'&#8221; The Times wrote.
The Duchess of Sussex has already recorded the voiceover, doing so “before the royal couple left for their six-week break to Canada to celebrate Christmas,&#8221; The <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7875243/Meghan-Markle-signs-voiceover-deal-Disney-return-donation-elephant-charity.html">Daily Mail</a> reported. British tabloids say the deal included more work for the movie and television company.
The Mail, too, said the move will reverberate, and noted that the royal couple&#8217;s earning potential is sky high.
&#8220;If the couple decide to keep their royal titles while touting themselves for hire, their combined money-spinning potential could be greater than any A-lister in history. As superstars of the international circuit, they would be able to command six or even seven-figure fees just for turning up at an event,&#8221; said The Mail.
<blockquote>Experts said becoming a brand ambassador for a global giant such as or Apple could earn the couple tens of millions annually. A nine-figure sum each year – $100million – would add up to $1billion (£760million) over a decade.</blockquote>
The royal couple, who wed last year in a storybook ceremony, last week announced that they would withdraw from their roles as senior members of the royal family.
“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,&#8221; they said in a statement posted on Instagram.
&#8220;We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen,” they wrote. “It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages.”
&#8220;This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity. We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge, and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support,&#8221; they concluded.
Prince Charles is reportedly desperate to keep the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the fold, <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/prince-charles-determined-keep-harry-21256979">The Mirror</a> reported:
<blockquote>A senior palace source said: “There’s a genuine fear from Charles that this could be the beginning of the end for Harry and Meghan’s involvement with the family and that, in his words, would be ‘an utter tragedy.’”</blockquote>

The Duke &amp; Duchess Of Sussex Visit Sussex

HOLLYWOOD BOUND: Duchess Meghan Markle Signs Voiceover Deal With Disney

With the recent release of J.J. Abrams’ “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” people have been reflecting on the newest trilogy as a whole, with many agreeing that it has fallen far short of expectations. Upon viewing the trailer for “The Force Awakens” in 2015, people were enthusiastic for a return to form, hoping to wash the taste of the prequels out of their mouths.
Now that the new trilogy is complete, the one thing that both “Star Wars” boosters and detractors agree upon is the frustrating lack of planning on the part of producer Kathleen Kennedy. Where the Disney-owned Marvel Cinematic Universe had a truly satisfying payoff with “Infinity War” and “Endgame,” the “Star Wars” films seem to constantly be in a state of correction, with Rian Johnson subverting Abrams’ “Force Awakens” story points and Abrams attempting to undercut those subversions. Taking the trilogy as a whole, the project seems to be at war with itself, with many fans pointing to “The Last Jedi” as the primary instigator.
Hardcore fans were livid at Rian Johnson’s attempts to incorporate deeper themes into the “Star Wars” universe, feeling that his story developments were more indicative of contempt than a genuine desire to engage the audience. Any time a filmmaker tries to explore a genre or franchise, breaking down the story beats and character motivations, there is going to be pushback from the faithful (just check out horror fans’ response to Drew Goddard’s “<a dir="ltr" href="x-apple-data-detectors://6">The Cabin in the Woods</a>” for further proof).
Some critics praised Johnson for trying something new, while others felt that he didn’t truly understand the spirit of the series. Both groups have a right to their own perspective, but the subversion of expectations is, on its own, a neutral concept. Like any other creative decision, when assessing the final product, we must first take the filmmaker’s intention into account. Were Johnson’s decisions deliberate or scattershot? Was he being disrespectful or measured? These are the types of questions we ask and, in trying to ascertain Johnson’s goals, we find a director who sees untapped story and thematic potential in the “Star Wars” universe, and his desperate attempts to tap into that in a way that is unique and effective.
Many have looked first to Johnson’s conception of Luke Skywalker as proof that the director didn’t fully comprehend the material. They look at this older, grizzled, cynical Skywalker and are horrified at the notion that the hero of the original trilogy could ever turn out this way. It seems that they wanted something a little closer to Alec Guinness’ Obi Wan Kenobi from “A New Hope”: the picture of wisdom and benevolence. While this may have been satisfying in one way, I always liked the idea that several decades of being considered a legend and a hero could actually make one more aware of one’s shortcomings, not less. Luke may have been the savior of the galaxy, but then what? How does one follow that up?
In many ways, it makes sense that Luke would go on to live like a hermit. If he doesn’t have to interact with anybody, he can’t let them down. He no longer has to worry about living up to the galactic reputation of Luke Skywalker and can instead live in peace, becoming more and more aware of the destructive nature of hero-worship.
In fact, it is Luke’s understanding of his own image that allows him to so thoroughly fool Kylo Ren and the rest of the First Order. They are so focused on destroying the legendary Luke Skywalker that they fail to see the rest of the Resistance beating a strategic retreat. If Ren had accepted that Luke was just a man &#8212; a very powerful man, true, but still just one man &#8212; he could have taken a broader view of the battle and kept the other Resistance fighters from escaping. But, like everybody else, he was so wrapped up in Skywalker’s reputation that he was oblivious to anything else, or he just willfully ignored it. Some may not like the idea of using “Star Wars” to comment on the concept of blind mythologizing, but I’d say it’s the perfect arena in which to do so, as the hardcore fans have shown themselves so transfixed by it that many are openly disdainful of other film franchises.
I also responded very favorably to Johnson’s decision to discount Rey’s lineage, saying indisputably that she comes from nowhere. There is nothing inherently important about her. This is something that Abrams would walk back in the next film, revealing Rey’s bloodline to be very important and deeply powerful. While I do understand the frustration that most fans have about Rey’s innate Force abilities, the attempt to explain that away through lineage undercuts something that I found very exciting and, frankly, very American.
Economist Milton Friedman once said that America is a “family culture,” suggesting that the American Dream is as much about making life better for one’s family as for the person himself. I would agree with this, but there is still a strain of individualism in our DNA that encourages people to push themselves beyond their own limitations, regardless of their initial station in life. The idea that Rey can be resourceful and smart and strong despite her background is, to me, much more exciting and inspiring than a character who is all of those things because of her background. Yes, I understand that this could make Rey into a “Mary Sue,” but I’m personally willing to accept that if it reinforces the idea that, here in America, a person can determine his own significance, regardless of bloodline.
There are many other elements in “The Last Jedi” that worked for me, including the suggestion that one of the major sacrifices made during wartime is personal pride and glory, but the creative decisions that Johnson made with Luke and Rey are what really stand out in my mind. A person may not agree, and indeed may feel that Johnson was disrespectful to the beloved franchise, but it would be foolish to dismiss his choices outright. The film is certainly not perfect (the less said about the tension-dissolving Monte Carlo sequence, the better), but the director’s choices were not haphazard. They were risky, but considered, and they deserved better treatment than they received, both by the fans and the franchise.
As always, this is just one man’s opinion. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments, not just on “The Last Jedi” or “The Rise of Skywalker,” but the general state of “Star Wars.” Did you like the new films or hate them? Or did you fall somewhere in between? What is your history with the “Star Wars” films? The best film criticism usually comes out of thoughtful discussion.

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Video Shows Prince Harry Asking Disney CEO About Getting Meghan Voiceover Work

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SMITH: Rethinking ‘The Last Jedi’

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Disney

Colin Kaepernick Signs Deal With Disney/ESPN To Make Docu-Series About His Own Life, Social Justice Films

TOTO: Shouldn’t ‘Hamilton’ Get Canceled Next?

NBA To Paint ‘Black Lives Matter’ On Sides Of Disney Courts, Allow Players To Put Social Justice Messages On Jerseys

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Man Arrested Trying to Quarantine on Private Disney Island

Disney Heiress Blasts Company Allegedly Dishing Out Executive Bonuses While Cutting Pay

Disney-Themed Charity Event Derailed By Musicians Union’s Demands

Over 100,000 N95 Masks, Other Supplies, Donated By Disney Parks To Help During Crisis

Disney World Closing Down Due To Coronavirus

Disney’s ‘Onward’ Banned In Middle East Over Lesbian Character

REPORT: Meghan Markle Asked Agent To Seek Her A Superhero Blockbuster Movie Role

Disney’s Animated Movie ‘Onward’ To Feature First Explicitly LGBTQ Character

Disney Heiress Tweets About Kobe: ‘The Man Was A Rapist. Deal With It.’

WATCH: New Video Shows Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Pitching Voiceover Work To Disney Director Jon Favreau

Disney Targeting Etsy Over Baby Yoda Merchandise

Video Shows Prince Harry Asking Disney CEO About Getting Meghan Voiceover Work

HOLLYWOOD BOUND: Duchess Meghan Markle Signs Voiceover Deal With Disney

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