Will Bob Iger leave Disney a Magic Kingdom or a Haunted Mansion?
Despite spending nearly two decades running Disney, what happens over the next few weeks could ultimately define Iger’s legacy.
The Jimmy Kimmel saga has put the Disney CEO in the middle of a culture war involving high-profile celebrities, a government agency, and President Donald Trump.
Iger’s handling of the continued fallout from Kimmel’s suspension-turned-reinstatement could cement how the legendary executive is remembered, write BI’s Lucia Moses, Madeline Berg, and Tim Paradis.
It won’t be easy, as Disney has managed to enrage both sides of the aisle. Kimmel supporters are upset he was suspended in the first place, while his detractors are mad he was let back on the air.
And we’re not just talking about Disney adults and anonymous internet commentators here. Some players on both sides of the argument hold significant power over the House of Mouse.
Celebrities, who have mostly backed Kimmel, are Disney’s lifeblood. If the company were to lose creative community's support, that’s a problem. It’s tough to create shows and movies if you don’t have people willing to make them with you.
That’s not to say you want to pick a fight with the other side. The two local TV station owners that refuse to air Kimmel’s show, Nexstar and Sinclair, oversee roughly 25% of ABC stations. It’s the latest in the growing tension between Disney and its local broadcasters, writes BI’s James Faris.
They also have the backing of FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who called local TV stations' resistance to national programmers “a good thing.”
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