Disney files lawsuit against Governor DeSantis for 'weaponizing government power'

Investing.com - Disney (NYSE:DIS) filed a lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, accusing the Republican governor of orchestrating a campaign to "weaponize government power” against the company.

The federal lawsuit alleges that a campaign to punish Disney over its political views was “orchestrated at every step” by DeSantis and now threatens the company’s business, Disney said in a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida.

The lawsuit comes just after a board appointed by DeSantis to oversee government services at Disney World voted to end an agreement struck between Disney and the previous board that had granted the company self-governing privileges in Florida.

Last week, DeSantis said that Florida lawmakers were readying a bill in the coming weeks that would revoke Disney Parks' exemption from ride inspections by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The lawsuit deepens a months-long dispute between the company and DeSantis, a likely candidate for the Republicans’ 2024 presidential nomination, initially over a “don’t say gay” bill that was tabled by DeSantis.

Disney believes the move is retaliation for speaking out against a “don’t say gay” bill that was tabled by DeSantis and seeks to ban classroom discussion on LGBTQ+ issues.

The campaign was "orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech,” Disney said in the complaint.