Disney to "Quiet the Noise" in Culture Wars

[Ms.Minnie]

One can always hope. Maybe they are finally realizing that although they can, maybe they shouldn't voice opinions about controversial points of view. It's better to have your opinion but keep it to yourself when you are in business. It's better to not share with the world views that YOU KNOW will cause problems for your business model. It's just good business not to alienate 50% of your client base to make a point. That's not how you stay in business.

As far as the new Little Mermaid movie goes, I have no opinion either way. I didn't see it and don't plan to see it. What I saw of it in advertisements didn't real me in as a movie I wanted to see. I hope that all who did see it enjoyed it.

 

[MamaMermaid]

I would also love it if Disney quieted down on announcing Blue Sky ideas that they currently have no plans on actually building.

Amen. So many big ideas that they're announcing... not sure how many will actually see follow through!

 

[Mysterian]

Return to it's roots. What do you mean? What has Disney done differently in recent years vs 100 years ago?

The reason it looks much the same today as it does 100 years ago because Disney's been remaking the hell out of it.

 

[Genie+]

As far back as the 90s and earlier there’s been an effort to be more inclusive. There was strong diverse representation in ads, commercials and promotional media that increased in actual content. This has been a core belief. It serves their humanitarian ideals and their worldwide market strategies. For decades. Back then most people weren’t getting upset about how Disney was taking away from them. They were happy Disney strived to set good examples while bringing the magic and wonder. Hasn’t that always been part of the tradition? That we try to be thoughtful, ethical, seek out our dreams and be mesmerized by all this world we share together.

 

[MillauFr]

I would prefer that they "Quiet the Noise" of the dining rooms on the DCL ships. They could also Quiet down the prices while they're at it.

Quiet and a Disney Cruise Dining Room are oxymorons.

 

[Kim&Chris]

Typically those who say Disney should focus on entertainment and not get involved in various social issues are likely those who don't want others to speak up about things they disagree with.

“Our primary mission needs to be to entertain ... and to have a positive impact on the world,” Iger said at the time. “I’m very serious about that. It should not be agenda-driven."

 

[starlite_]

“Our primary mission needs to be to entertain ... and to have a positive impact on the world,” Iger said at the time. “I’m very serious about that. It should not be agenda-driven."

So you think diversity is "an agenda"?

 

[starlite_]

I have still yet to see one person who actually complained about the skin color of the live action Little Mermaid. I saw posts, Tik Toks, etc. of those claiming that people were "up in arms", but I never myself saw one negative thing about it. I'm not saying there weren't some idiots out there with the opinions, but I never saw any outrage about it.

You are lucky. I saw it, the racism involved was horrible.

 

[tvguy]

Regardless of which side of the aisle everyone stands, I do believe this is good news. Disney is at it's best when the focus is on pure entertainment.

I'm not commenting on "woke", conservative views, etc. I'm just hopeful that Disney can, and will, return to it's roots.

https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/disney-ceo-says-company-will-quiet-noise-culture-wars-analyst-2023-09-20/#:~:text=Sept 20 (Reuters) - Walt,an analyst note on Wednesday.

Well, given that the Disney family cut all ties with the company decades ago kind of shows how they feel. There is a reason why the Walt Disney Family Museum is NOT in or near any of the parks and in San Francisco instead. And it will take decades to get back to their roots if they choose to do so.

 

[amylevan]

So you think diversity is "an agenda"?

Im not the original poster, but I’m going to give this a go.

Diversity as a check box is an agenda. Including diversity just so that you can say that you did is an agenda.

Being true to a story, choosing the best actor(s) regardless of race, being ethnically realistic, not forcing diversity awkwardly in, in other words, being naturally diverse is not an agenda. There’s a difference. Being genuine about the diversity just looks and comes across differently.

 

[HopperFan]

“Our primary mission needs to be to entertain ... and to have a positive impact on the world,” Iger said at the time. “I’m very serious about that. It should not be agenda-driven."

And that is why he is so good at his job - he has the ability to speak in a way that covers the bases, keeps the waters calm and lets everyone feel like they were heard.

 

[starlite_]

I want the original poster, but I’m going to give this a go.

Diversity as a check box is an agenda. Including diversity just so that you can say that you did is an agenda.

Being true to a story, choosing the best actor(s) regardless of race, being ethnically realistic, not forcing diversity awkwardly in, in other words, being naturally diverse is not an agenda. There’s a difference. Being genuine about the diversity just looks and comes across differently.

See I agree with what you said, I just don't think we would agree in what forcing diversity and being naturally diverse means.

 

[Smugpugmug]

You are lucky. I saw it, the racism involved was horrible.

Didn't one of the threads on here discussing the Little Mermaid remake get deleted due to the comments? I remember one of them did.

 

[georgina]

I am happy to see companies speak up when they see things that are wrong being done around them. It is hard to remain silent when one side is screaming so loudly. I prefer to know a company's basic values beyond making money.

 

[BrianL]

See I agree with what you said, I just don't think we would agree in what forcing diversity and being naturally diverse means.

There are times when it is forced, but they are actually rare. Sometimes it's not so much "forced" as it is just clumsily handled - like when they add a character of a certain ethnicity and give that character every stereotypical trope that they know. Often this is done in good faith, but it's still pretty dumb. I'm not one to get all bent out of shape about it though - it can sometimes contributre to a story not being that good, but that's about all the damage it does. I'm certainly not afraid of nor offended by it or anything.

 

[georgina]

Well, given that the Disney family cut all ties with the company decades ago kind of shows how they feel. There is a reason why the Walt Disney Family Museum is NOT in or near any of the parks and in San Francisco instead. And it will take decades to get back to their roots if they choose to do so.

San Francisco and Disney's roots go together?

 

[Jangles]

As a many-decades old male, I'm actually convinced at this point in my life it's time for the "boys" to step aside and let some of the "girls" figure it out. We are so overdue for that in this country..........

We tried Thatcher and later Truss. That didn’t work out so well.

 

[HokieRaven5]

Well, given that the Disney family cut all ties with the company decades ago kind of shows how they feel. There is a reason why the Walt Disney Family Museum is NOT in or near any of the parks and in San Francisco instead. And it will take decades to get back to their roots if they choose to do so.

Well, Walt’s side of the family had their direct ties cut by Roy’s side of the family when Ronald Miller (Diane Disney’s Husband) was ousted in favor of Michael Eisner as orchestrated by Roy E. Disney.

Roy’s daughter Abigail is fairly supportive of their stances with “controversial” topics but she is more against them because of the pay disparity between the C-Suite and Castmembers.

 

[starlite_]

There are times when it is forced, but they are actually rare. Sometimes it's not so much "forced" as it is just clumsily handled - like when they add a character of a certain ethnicity and give that character every stereotypical trope that they know. Often this is done in good faith, but it's still pretty dumb. I'm not one to get all bent out of shape about it though - it can sometimes contributre to a story not being that good, but that's about all the damage it does. I'm certainly not afraid of nor offended by it or anything.

This I agree with 100%.

Sad part is, I'm sure lots of those clumsy attempts were probably not that clumsy at the start and became clumsy because of higher ups meddling with a story. But that's a dif conversation haha.

 

[amylevan]

See I agree with what you said, I just don't think we would agree in what forcing diversity and being naturally diverse means.

The ironic thing here - you don’t actually know me, or what I think naturally diverse looks like. So who’s being the judgmental one?