The Walt Disney Company sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday over the Republican's takeover of its theme park district, alleging the governor waged a "targeted campaign of government retaliation" after the company opposed a law critics call “Don't Say Gay.”
The suit was filed minutes after a Disney World oversight board appointed by DeSantis voted to void a deal that placed theme park design and construction decisions in the company's hands.
The suit charges that DeSantis "orchestrated at every step" a plan to punish the company over what it claims is protected speech, adding that the campaign "threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights."
The lawsuit is the latest in the conflict between DeSantis, a likely contender for the Republican presidential nomination next year, and Disney, one of the state's largest employers, with a workforce of roughly 75,000, and a major driver of tourism in Florida.
"Disney regrets that it has come to this," the filing reads. "But having exhausted efforts to seek a resolution, the Company is left with no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials."
The dispute with Disney has drawn significant criticism from the governor’s White House rivals and business leaders who view it as an extraordinary rejection of the small-government tenets of conservatism.
The fight began last year after Disney, in the face of significant pressure, publicly opposed a state law that bans classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades, a policy critics call “Don’t Say Gay.”
As punishment, DeSantis took over Disney World’s self-governing district, formerly known as the the Reedy Creek Improvement District, and appointed a new board of supervisors that would oversee municipal services in the sprawling theme parks. But before the new board came in, the company pushed through an 11th hour agreement that stripped the new supervisors of much of their authority.
"Governor DeSantis and his allies paid no mind to the governing structure that facilitated Reedy Creek’s successful development until one year ago, when the Governor decided to target Disney," the complaint reads. "There is no room for disagreement about what happened here: Disney expressed its opinion on state legislation and was then punished by the State for doing so."
"Governor DeSantis announced that Disney’s statement had 'crossed the line' — a line evidently separating permissible speech from intolerable speech — and launched a barrage of threats against the Company in immediate response," the suit continues. "Since then, the Governor, the State Legislature, and the Governor’s handpicked local government regulators have moved beyond threats to official action, employing the machinery of the State in a coordinated campaign to damage Disney’s ability to do business in Florida."
"State leaders have not been subtle about their reasons for government intervention," the suit reads. "They have proudly declared that Disney deserves this fate because of what Disney said. This is as clear a case of retaliation as this Court is ever likely to see."
In a statement to Spectrum News, DeSantis' office says that it is "unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain special privileges not held by other businesses in the state."
"This lawsuit is yet another unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of the Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law," the statement from the Florida governor's office continues.
The DeSantis board on Wednesday said Disney’s move to retain control over their property was effectively unlawful and performed without proper public notice.
“Disney picked the fight with this board. We were not looking out for a fight,” said Martin Garcia, chair of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, adding “bottom line, what our lawyers have told us, is factually and legally what they created is an absolute legal mess. It will not work."
DeSantis has also vowed additional retribution, with proposals to enhance state oversight of the resort’s rides and monorail, as well as a suggestion to build a prison nearby.
Disney has said all agreements made with the previous board were legal and approved in a public forum. Disney CEO Bob Iger has also said that any actions against the company that threaten jobs or expansion at its Florida resort was not only “anti-business” but “anti-Florida.”
"Disney finds itself in this regrettable position because it expressed a viewpoint the Governor and his allies did not like," the complaint says. "Disney wishes that things could have been resolved a different way. But Disney also knows that it is fortunate to have the resources to take a stand against the State’s retaliation — a stand smaller businesses and individuals might not be able to take when the State comes after them for expressing their own views. In America, the government cannot punish you for speaking your mind."
Read the full text of the complaint below.