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Disney CEO has telling comeback after being grilled on ESPN politics

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It’s an understatement to say Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger is one of the most powerful and influential figures in all of media.

Iger presides over some of the most recognizable media brands in the world, including the ABC network, Disney Channel, Marvel Comics and ESPN. He’s the head honcho of a virtual media empire.

There’s a lot of money and power behind those brands. So when Iger is addressing big picture questions at annual Disney shareholder meetings, his responses need to have some heft and substance behind them.

Problem is, when asked the tough questions about some of his most recognizable brands at the company’s shareholders meeting Thursday, Iger offered responses that left much to be desired.

The meeting also painted a vivid picture of how he wants to wield his considerable reach and power.

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When Justin Danhof, general counsel at the National Center for Public Policy Research, asked Iger about his properties, it didn’t go smoothly.

“I want to talk about the company’s commitment to honesty,” Danhof began.

“Trust in the American news media is at historic lows,” he said, referencing comments by host Joy Behar on ABC’s “The View” and ESPN’s embrace of politics. Behar, in particular, came under fire when she attacked Christianity, calling it a form of “mental illness.”

Do you think ESPN's insertion of politics into its sports coverage is a problem?

It didn’t take Danhof long to aim squarely at ESPN.

“ESPN has seemingly become a 24/7 anti-Trump tirade network which reached its pinnacle last fall when host Jemele Hill called President Donald Trump a white supremacist,” he said. “Mr. Iger, you admitted to intervening to make sure that ESPN’s leadership didn’t fire her for these defamatory remarks. What kind of message does that send to other company employees? Just last month, Hill again publicly declared that President Trump and his supporters are white supremacists.”

Hill infamously referred to Trump as a “white supremacist” on Twitter in late 2017. When given opportunities to retract or soften her stance, she has since only doubled down.

But it’s not just Hill; ESPN has frequently injected politics into many of its shows, especially in its coverage of issues like the national anthem protest started by Colin Kaepernick. When athletes such as NBA stars LeBron James or Stephen Curry brazenly attack the president, ESPN gives tacit approval by offering ample coverage of their remarks without disapproval, which is very different from how the network handled criticism of former President Barack Obama.

ESPN also upset quite a few people when Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Bruce, was given the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2015 ESPYs.

Iger’s response to Danhof was dismissive at best.

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He offered a meek agreement that Behar’s comments on Christianity were out of hand, but seemed wholly nonplussed about ESPN playing politics despite the overwhelming evidence suggesting otherwise.

“And in terms of your depiction of ESPN and a variety of other things you said,” Iger said.

“I know you’ve been to other meetings in the past,” he said. “You and I have agreed to disagree on these issues, not that some of the things that you’ve raised don’t have some validity, but I don’t agree with everything that you said.”

It’s extremely telling and unsurprising that Iger doesn’t view ESPN’s political actions as a problem. But that doesn’t mean they’re not an issue, considering the scope of his influence.

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Bryan Chai has written news and sports for The Western Journal for more than five years and has produced more than 1,300 stories. He specializes in the NBA and NFL as well as politics.
Bryan Chai has written news and sports for The Western Journal for more than five years and has produced more than 1,300 stories. He specializes in the NBA and NFL as well as politics. He graduated with a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona. He is an avid fan of sports, video games, politics and debate.
Birthplace
Hawaii
Education
Class of 2010 University of Arizona. BEAR DOWN.
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English, Korean
Topics of Expertise
Sports, Entertainment, Science/Tech




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