FCC says it's investigating Disney and ABC over DEI efforts
www.cnbc.com
The Federal Communications Commission is investigating the Walt Disney Company and its ABC unit over its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

Summary:

The Federal Communications Commission has alerted the Walt Disney Company and its ABC unit that it will begin an investigation into the diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at the media giant.

The FCC, the agency that regulates the media and telecommunications industry, said in a letter dated Friday that it wants to “ensure that Disney and ABC have not been violating FCC equal employment opportunity regulations by promoting invidious forms of DEI discrimination.”

“We are reviewing the Federal Communications Commission’s letter, and we look forward to engaging with the commission to answer its questions,” a Disney spokesperson told CNBC.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who was recently appointed by President Donald Trump, began a similar investigation into Comcast and NBCUniversal in early February. The inquiry comes after Trump signed an executive order looking to end DEI practices at U.S. corporations in January. The order calls for each federal agency to “identify up to nine potential civil compliance investigations” among publicly traded companies, as well as nonprofits and other institutions.

    • Binx85@lemm.eeEnglish
      13·
      3 days ago

      I’m betting they’re more likely to see this through. If you aren’t already familiar, check out the dispute between Disney and Desantis.

      • Nightwingdragon@lemmy.worldEnglish
        25·
        3 days ago

        I get where you’re coming from, but this argument doesn’t really work any more.

        Disney fought DeSantis because the rule of law largely still existed and open extortion wasn’t ruling the day. The idea that a President could openly extort law firms, media conglomerates, the ultra-rich, and even other countries with complete and total impunity was laughable. Not even Trump would be that brazen. And even in a battle of a state government vs. a multibillion dollar corporation, the courtroom was at least a level playing field.

        But that was so 4 years ago. Times have changed. Jeff Bezos bent the knee. Multiple billion-dollar law firms have bent the knee. All three big networks (NBC, CBS, ABC) have all bent the knee. Several universities have bent the knee. Countries like Canada were even willing to dedicate billions of dollars to appease Trump rather than incur his wrath.

        It’s one thing when you have a war chest the size of Disney and are willing to fight through a court system where they had a fair shot. But Trump and the US government are one of the few entities that have an even bigger war chest than Disney could ever dream of, the backing of the US government, and a court system that has repeatedly shown to be willing to kowtow to Trump.

        Doesn’t matter how big Disney’s war chest is if they have to battle through a rigged MAGA court system where the outcome is about as pre-determined as a pro wrestling match. And if Disney realizes this, they’ll probably offer to settle with Trump very quickly. This is not a battle that Disney can win if Trump is that determined. Trump simply has a much bigger war chest and many, many more tools at his disposal that Disney has no answer for.

        • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          3 days ago

          Yes. Pick up Disney and all their money and power and plop them down in the corrupt kleptocracy/oligarchy that is Russia and see how that goes.

          That’s kind of the way I see it happening here now that donvict and his wrecking crew are in office. I expect Disney will be offering up some magafied bullshit as a concession in short order.

          This, after they are already being punished by the free market (duh, that’s how it is supposed to work) by pumping out dreck like Snow White and recent Star Wars projects. But that’s the actual people deciding. First step - don’t piss off your audience. They are going to decide whether they want to spend their money on your product. But now the qons want to step in and do all the deciding, I guess.

      • Deello@lemm.ee
        7·
        3 days ago

        This ended with a win for DeSantis in an out of court settlement that included having some members of the Disney board being pushed out and replaced with DeSantis loyalists. So no, I doubt that Disney will see it through.

        • Binx85@lemm.eeEnglish
          5·
          3 days ago

          If you’re referencing Reedy Creek, it looks like Disney ultimately won after Desantis capitulated on who became charged with running the CTFOD

          DeSantis extended what Disney likely perceived as a peace offering when he tapped CFTOD’s former administrator to head elections at Orange County. That opened up the job for Stephanie Kopelousos, the governor’s former legislative affairs director who was confirmed Wednesday and has a track record with helping Disney. In 2021, she wrote a carve-out to a social media law that exempted Disney. The olive branch was solidified with the appointment of Craig Mateer, founder of hospitality service CCM Capital Group and a longtime Disney contractor, to the board.

          • Deello@lemm.ee
            2·
            3 days ago

            Yup, that’s the one. I’d hardly call that a win though.

            That includes the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, formerly called Reedy Creek. After DeSantis usurped power, more than 30 workers resigned amid claims of mismanagement, Florida reporter Jason Garcia wrote last October. The departures were in key management positions, such as the district administrator, chief financial officer, building official, fire chief and district clerk. In an exit survey, a department director said, “The district is no longer functional” and that new leadership is “unqualified and incompetent.”

            • Binx85@lemm.eeEnglish
              2·
              3 days ago

              I think a detante (the word the article uses) is a more appropriate word. Though given that they were on the defense, a detante looks better for them than it does for the aggressor.