Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse on the Disneyland Resort reopening celebration at Disneyland Paris on February 3, 2024. Photograph: Kristy Sparow (Getty Photos)
The environment at Disney’s company workplaces should really feel barely lighter today, between Disney World’s latest detente with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and information right this moment that shareholders have voted towards billionaire “activist investor” Nelson Peltz’s try and snag two seats on the corporate’s board.
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As io9 beforehand defined, a behind-the-scenes state of affairs that in all probability wouldn’t curiosity the common Disney fan abruptly grew to become extra headline-worthy when Peltz gave an interview to the Monetary Occasions during which he complained about variety in latest Disney Marvel tasks, together with final yr’s The Marvels and the Oscar-winning smash hit Black Panther. “Why do I’ve to have a Marvel [movie] that’s all girls?” the 81-year-old requested. “Not that I’ve something towards girls, however why do I’ve to try this? Why can’t I’ve Marvels which can be each? Why do I want an all-Black solid?” Not solely was this angle off-putting to followers, it additionally rubbed high-profile Disney shareholders the fallacious means—together with Star Wars creator George Lucas, who spoke out towards Peltz’ proxy combat.
As the Hollywood Reporter updates, right this moment’s annual shareholder assembly proved to be “a win for the Walt Disney Co. and CEO Bob Iger” as all the firm’s director nominees “have been elected by shareholders, rebuffing the activist investor Nelson Peltz, who had been working a high-profile marketing campaign to place himself and former Disney CFO Jay Rasulo on the corporate’s board.”
Sources cited by the commerce make it sound just like the voting wasn’t precisely shut, popping out decisively in favor of Staff Iger. THR additionally has an announcement from Iger, who sounds able to put the Peltz state of affairs in Disney’s rear-view mirror as shortly as attainable: “I need to thank our shareholders for his or her belief and confidence in our Board and administration. With the distracting proxy contest now behind us, we’re wanting to focus 100% of our consideration on our most essential priorities: progress and worth creation for our shareholders and artistic excellence for our shoppers.”
