Mainstream media’s open support for Disney in their fight against Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., took on a whole new look after a settlement was reached that appeared to end in DeSantis’ favor.
After ongoing legal battles, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, a board appointed by DeSantis, voted to approve a settlement deal with Disney on Wednesday. The settlement addressed the two-year long litigation battle over who rightfully controls the formally titled Reedy Creek Improvement District that encompasses the Walt Disney World Resort.
The settlement officially invalidated Disney’s previous attempts to retain governing control over the district and ended all pending litigation in Florida state court.
Since DeSantis’ plan to dissolve Disney’s self-governing status was announced in 2022, many media outlets quickly took sides with the House of Mouse and predicted that DeSantis would be crushed.
In 2022, several people at MSNBC called DeSantis’ move as “authoritarian” and mocked the governor for attempting to go after the billion-dollar company.
NBC News chief political analyst Chuck Todd and MSNBC host and former 2020 Biden campaign aide Symone Sanders-Townsend also weighed in on the controversy, with Todd beginning a panel discussion by asserting Republicans “better be careful going after Disney.”
“Oh, my money’s on the Disney lobbyists, honey. My money is on the Disney lobbyists,” Sanders interjected.
ABC’s “The View,” which is owned by Disney, also criticized the Florida governor, and suggested that there was no way DeSantis could beat the company.
“So, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is punishing our parent company, Disney, for speaking out against his so-called Don’t Say Gay law. He revoked Disney’s special status that could cost Florida taxpayers $2 billion. This goes against the GOP’s brand of being business-friendly,” co-host Joy Behar said. “Now, can he win this culture war? Because he’s taking on the mouse, and the mouse is bigger than Ron DeSantis.”
During a “CBS Mornings” segment in 2023, co-host Gayle King praised Disney after it canceled an office complex project in Florida, suggesting that DeSantis’ move was a factor.
“Okay. Drop the microphone, Bob Iger. He seems to be saying you want to play hardball, Governor DeSantis, let’s go,” King said.
Throughout 2023, headlines claimed how DeSantis was being outmaneuvered by Disney and would eventually lose his case.
“How Disney just beat Ron DeSantis,” a Vox headline read. A Salon piece was titled, “’Out-negotiated by Mickey Mouse’: DeSantis’ board reveals Disney quietly stripped them of power.” Newsweek reported “Ron DeSantis Suffers Huge Blow in His Battle With Disney.”