Disney loses battle in its feud with DeSantis, but maybe not the war

In yet another blow to Disney’s long-standing tradition of being the most powerful organization in Florida, the state’s actual governor—not quite presidential candidate Ron DeSantis—just scored a major victory in a feud between the two parties that’s been raging for well over a year now.

Back in March 2022, then-CEO Bob Chapek criticized DeSantis’ reprehensible “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which effectively banned Florida school teachers from discussing anything relating to gender or sexuality in the classroom. (For those unfamiliar with this whole situation, definitely don’t rush to give Chapek any flowers for this. He was only moved to respond to the legislation after employees staged mass walkouts as a result of his inaction.)

The castle’s initial affront led DeSantis to double down on his homophobia; he responded by effectively revoking Disney’s special dispensation to run the land surrounding its sprawling campus, known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which they had managed for over half a century. Disney quickly lodged a federal suit in response, alleging that DeSantis’ move was “patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional,” as well as a violation of the First Amendment. Even more mud-slinging followed from both sides in the ensuing months.

Now, a federal judge is playing Maleficent and ruling against the Mouse. Florida District Court Judge Allen Winsor (who was appointed to the bench by Trump) dismissed Disney’s suit today, claiming that the company lacked standing and cannot make a free speech challenge against lawmakers by claiming that they acted “with a constitutionally impermissible purpose” (per The Independent). Winsor further stated (per Politico) that Disney “has not alleged any specific actions the new board [of Reedy Creek] took (or will take) because of the governor’s alleged control,” adding that the company “has not alleged any specific injury from any board action.” “[Disney’s] alleged injury… is its operating under a board it cannot control. That injury would exist whether or not the governor controlled the board,” he continued.

Disney, however, is not backing down and seems prepared to appeal the decision. “This is an important case with serious implications for the rule of law, and it will not end here,” the company said in a statement. “If left unchallenged, this would set a dangerous precedent and give license to states to weaponize their official powers to punish the expression of political viewpoints they disagree with. We are determined to press forward with our case.” Whatever happens, it’s clear this feud is far from over. The best Disney movies are all about standing up to the villain, after all.