Disney Stepping Back From Some DEI Efforts as Trump Takes Power
In a move to try and ensure that it doesn’t wind up in the crosshairs of the Trump administration’s campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion programs, Disney appears to be rolling back some of its DEI efforts.
The entertainment giant, in its latest filing to regulators, scrubbed references to the “Reimagine Tomorrow” initiative, which launched in 2021 with the purpose of amplifying underrepresented voices. It also didn’t mention employee development programs and fellowships for underrepresented talent, instead noting an existing initiative intended to hire military veterans.
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The pivot was outlined in a note to employees sent Tuesday from chief human resources officer Sonia Coleman. It includes a new “talent strategy” factor to executive compensation planning that assesses how leaders “uphold our company values, incorporate different perspectives to drive business success, cultivate an environment where all employees can thrive, and sustain a robust pipeline to ensure long-term organizational strength.”
The changes come amid an escalating drive by the government against DEI programs hosted by private companies. President Trump has issued an executive order directing investigation of allegedly illegal DEI policies for violations of federal civil rights laws, though it remains unclear what he’s referencing, among other changes.
The pressure from the government to eliminate programs that exclude certain groups on the basis of race has prompted several companies to retreat from efforts to boost diversity in their ranks. Although a chunk of the private sector started shying away from explicitly mentioning race in those initiatives before Trump’s inauguration, the withdrawal escalated when he took office. Meta, Amazon and Google have started eliminating diversity programs amid the shifting policy landscape.
Disney, like most other companies, doesn’t explicitly mention race in its DEI objectives in favor of “underrepresented backgrounds.” Its concerns revolve around the possibility that these programs, including one requiring that at least half of producers and writing staff come from underrepresented groups, establish discriminatory hiring quotas.
In December, a new framework was added to Disney’s corporate impact website. The memo from Coleman notes that it’s “rooted in our efforts to enhance our employee experience” and “marks the evolution of the significant work done with Reimagine Tomorrow.”
In the securities filing, the company still notes an executive incubator and creative talent development program intended to promote individuals from “underrepresented” groups.
Other changes are being contemplated. One target: content advisories implemented in 2020 on classic Disney animated and live-action titles, like Peter Pan, The Aristocats and Dumbo, according to a person familiar with the situation who notes that it will move from the beginning of movies to an informational tab. The notice states, “This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures.”
Disney+ has put warnings about “outdated cultural depictions” on its film titles since launching, but the latest language went a step further in cautioning against racist and culturally insensitive depictions in its movies. The studio consulted with a third-party advisory council that included groups like the African American Film Critics Association, Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment and GLAAD, among others.
In recent years, Disney has been criticized by conservatives for adding racially diverse and gay characters in movies. In a Nov. 29 interview at The New York Times‘ DealBook event, weeks after The Marvels underperformed in its box office bow en route to $206 million globally, Disney CEO Bob Iger acknowledged the impact of Disney’s culture war critics on its operations. “Creators lost sight of what their No. 1 objective needed to be,” he said. “We have to entertain first. It’s not about messages.”
Last year, Disney’s DEI programs came under attack by Stephen Miller’s America First Legal foundation, which claimed that initiatives to boost diversity and inclusion violate civil rights laws and have tanked the entertainment giant’s value.
At the time, the entertainment giant continued to fight a high-profile legal battle with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over control of its special tax district that afforded the company special privileges in the state to control the land its sprawling theme parks sits on. Like America First, the Republican governor attacked the company for “woke” decisions around content.
Also at play: a lawsuit filed by Gina Carano for discrimination and wrongful termination after she was allegedly fired from The Mandalorian over a series of social media posts. Elon Musk, who commented that Iger should be “fired immediately” after Disney pulled ads from X, is funding the litigation.
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