American Conservatives against Mickey Mouse

Since its inception in 1926, Disney has been one of the most valued, beloved - and most profitable companies in the world.

She recently got into a heated dispute with the Republican Party when she issued a statement opposing anti-gay legislation passed in Florida.

Tali Goldstein

09/04/2022

Saturday, 09 April 2022, 11:00 Updated: 11:39

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American entertainment and media giant Walt Disney has been considered the "favorite of families" around the world for decades.

The figures who represent the absolute good fight against pure evil - in line with the conservative Judeo-Christian worldview of the 1950s - making the company one of the most outstanding global brands to win the absolute trust of the public - and one of the most profitable companies: As of April 5, Walt Disney Market Value Amounted to $ 247 billion.

The company also stars every year in lists that rank the most valued and profitable companies in the world.

Recently, however, it has surprisingly angered the conservative public in the United States - a public that has traditionally been a staunch supporter of society since its inception.

This rage is now also directed at one of the most beloved cartoon characters in the world - Mickey Mouse.

What did Mickey Mouse do to win the title of the new object of hatred of the Republicans in a country so polarized between right and left that even a cartoon mouse falls victim to it in politics?

Mickey Mouse is apparently too friendly toward the gay community in the United States, which has recently drawn harsh criticism from the governor of the State of Florida and other Republican leaders, in addition to direct efforts to hurt Disney and Mickey himself.

Mickey Mouse (Photo: GettyImages, Kevin Winter)

If the people

Disney, founded in 1923 by Walter Elias Disney and proud to be a comprehensive and diverse society, expressed earlier this month its public opposition to a controversial educational law passed by Florida Gov. Ron de Santis in late March.

The legislation, Parental Rights in Education (popularly known as "Don't Say Gay"), prohibits third-grade kindergarten teachers and teachers from teaching sexuality, gender identity, and sexual orientation in ways that are "not properly perceived" and leaves the role of education in the hands of parents.

After de Santis officially signed the Education Act, Disney issued a statement stating that "our goal as a society is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or rejected in the courts."

The statement also said that the company is committed to supporting the LGBT public throughout the United States - and instantly "the happiest place in the world" has become the enemy of the people.

At a news conference last week, de Santis said in response that "Disney has distanced many people from it now. Therefore its political influence is fading."

He added that "if we had passed a law banning the abuse of Uighurs in China, society would have supported it."

Jim Banks, a Republican congressman from Indiana State, wrote on Twitter that "Disney is now adopting a 'woke' gender ideology regarding five-year-olds. Conservatives should oppose Mickey Mouse's copyright renewal."

In a letter to Disney CEO Bob Chapek, Banks condemned the company for its public opposition to the law, claiming that the company "surrendered to far-left activists and resorted to hypocritical and 'enlightened' actions." "I will no longer support the extension of its copyright."

Disney's copyright for the original character of Mickey Mouse from the 1928 Steamboat Willie movie is about to expire.

If not renewed, this version of Mickey Mouse will become part of the public domain by January 2024. However, Disney holds the copyright of other versions of the popular mouse.

Leading the campaign against Disney.

Florida Gov. Ron de Santis (Photo: Reuters, FILE PHOTO)

"Boycott Disney"

Moreover, De Santis supports the idea proposed by some Republican lawmakers - to abolish the "special rights" that Disney has enjoyed for decades under the protection of the 1967 Reedy Creek Improvement Act.

The law allows Disney World Park to actually operate as an independent government within the area in which it was built, known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District.

The park itself oversees the use of land within Reedy Creek County, the buildings and roads - and provides the services the municipality typically provides.

The abolition of this special status would force Disney World to comply with Florida state regulations.

"If Disney wants to adopt a 'bright' ideology, it should be subject to state regulations," tweeted Florida Congressman Spencer Roach.

Conservative writer Nick Adams joined the condemnation, writing: "The sovereign status of Disney in Florida must be revoked and the copyright protected by Congress must be abolished. Boycott it altogether, cancel your subscription to Disney Plus and Disney credit cards!"

Republicans also stressed the fact that the entertainment and media giant announced in early April that its streaming service, Disney Plus, would enter 42 new regions in Europe, Asia and West Africa starting in May.

Republicans have noted that in some of these places there are very strict laws against LGBT people, for example, Algeria, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Tunisia, Oman, Morocco and the Palestinian Authority.

Mickey Mouse in the movie Steamboat Willie (Photo: Official Website, Screenshot)

"Rational minds will win"

It's not yet clear how far Republicans will go in the campaign against Disney, but it's clear to everyone that revoking the company's special status in Florida and infringing on its copyright could prove "destructive" for the company, said political analyst Jim Clark of the Orlando News 6 website.

However, he added that the threats could turn out to be idle threats.

Richard Fogelsong, author of Married to the Mouse, told News 6 that in his opinion "the more rational minds will win. It's just an attempt to subordinate Disney and Mickey Mouse to the wishes of Governor de Santis," who became the Republican star and possible candidate in the 2024 election. Himself at the forefront of the culture war between right and left at a time when all means are kosher.

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