Staff Reports
The recent decision by Disney to settle a lawsuit involving President-elect Donald Trump has ignited quite a stir within the entertainment giant, highlighting just how deep the internal rifts might be over political matters. Under the stewardship of CEO Bob Iger, Disney agreed to shell out a whopping $15 million towards Trump’s presidential library and an additional million to cover attorney fees tied to the case. This could be viewed as an expensive lesson for ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos: sometimes your words can cost you, or at least your employer.
'Chilling': ABC News employees reportedly fuming and see Trump settlement as 'surrender' https://t.co/tDgp3OnIGs
— #TuckFrump (@realTuckFrumper) December 17, 2024
The lawsuit stemmed from Stephanopoulos’s repeated assertions during an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace that Trump had been found “civilly liable” for rape, a claim that was not entirely accurate according to a federal jury, which clarified that he was simply liable for sexual abuse. Contrary to what Stephanopoulos might think in the face of public backlash, mischaracterizing legal outcomes isn’t covered under freedom of the press, especially when it stirs up a legal hornet’s nest. Yet, the team at Disney seems to believe that avoiding a long and potentially damaging court battle in Florida was the wiser path. After all, who needs press freedom when there’s a $15 million library at stake?
The choice to ruffle feathers at their own network rather than challenge Trump in court has left many Disney journalists and producers seething. Many seem to believe that this move could dilute the integrity of their organization, trading off journalistic credibility for a quick payout. The leadership cited concerns about the current Supreme Court’s attitude towards media defamation cases as a rationale for their quick retreat. A changing judiciary landscape could spell trouble for any media outlet willing to thumb their noses at the facts, particularly in the realm of public officials.
Unsurprisingly, this isn’t the end of Trump’s legal maneuvers. Following the settlement, he has signaled intentions to file additional suits against various media outlets, including the Des Moines Register, which made the touchy prediction that Kamala Harris would narrowly defeat Trump in Iowa. History has a funny way of bitting back, and Trump has reportedly decided to lay into those whom he feels have wronged him. The suggestion that this was an act of **election interference** is a classic Trumpian play, and certainly a narrative that keeps the media machine in overdrive.
While Disney executives may be breathing a sigh of relief now, they might also be wise to take a closer look at their decision-making processes. Selling out to avoid controversy may feel convenient, but it could also undermine the establishment’s credibility among Americans who see through the liberal bias in news reporting. It remains to be seen just how this settlement will play out for Disney’s image, but one thing is clear: this Walt Disney Company saga is far from the family-friendly stories that once defined their brand.
