The creator of Disney’s The Owl House is speaking out about the company's failure to take a stance against Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
The giant corporation has been under fire in recent days after it was revealed they have given repeated donations to Florida lawmakers who support the controversial bill and will continue to do so.
Things got worse when CEO Bob Chapek circulated an internal memo at the company claiming that they support their LGBTQ+ employees but also writing, “Because this struggle is much bigger than any one bill in any one state, I believe the best way for our company to bring about lasting change is through the inspiring content we produce, the welcoming culture we create, and the diverse community organizations we support.” People generally took his statement to mean that the company will continue to support politicians they feel will benefit their bottom line while touting their “inspiring content” — despite the fact that Disney has long faced backlash for their failure to include LGBTQ+ characters and storylines in theatrical releases and bounced queer-inclusive shows like Love, Simon and High Fidelity to Hulu rather than have them directly under the Disney brand.
They have, however, had a handful of shows for kids that feature LGBTQ+ characters, including The Owl House, which launched in 2020 and has already been up for a GLAAD award.