Entertainment Giant Disney Obliges to Trump's Directives Opposing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives
In the wake of President Trump's executive order against diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the federal government, numerous companies have been reassessing their own DEI initiatives. Among them, Disney has made some notable adjustments, sparking widespread attention. According to a report by Axios, Disney is scaling back its DEI efforts, making alterations to its corporate jargon andcdots
Firstly, Disney is shifting its focus from 'Diversity & Inclusion' to 'Talent Strategy,' which is now more centered on how values drive business success. Additionally, Disney is letting go of its controversial 'Reimagine Tomorrow' initiative and the corresponding website, which highlighted stories and talent from underrepresented communities. This site faced criticism from conservatives and has been replaced with an updated hub on Disney's corporate website.
Moreover, disclaimers attached to potentially offensive Disney content will be significantly de-emphasized moving forward. Initially, disclaimers were a common feature before shows and movies containing stereotypes or potentially offensive content. However, Disney+ has yet to reflect this shift, and the disclaimers continue to appear at the beginning of a show, while a shorter message will appear in the 'Details' tab.
These changes in Disney's DEI programs can be tied to the company's recent trends, such as its initial reluctance to speak out against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' 'Don't Say Gay' legislation, and its decision to cut a trans storyline from Pixar's upcoming TV show 'Win or Lose.'
Disney hasn't yet commented on the changes to its DEI programs. For more news on Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Universe, and Doctor Who, keep checking in with io9.
Disney's shift in focus from 'Diversity & Inclusion' to 'Talent Strategy' has been widely discussed in technology circles, with many tech publications like io9 reporting on the changes. The future of Disney's DEI initiatives, given its recent decisions, is a topic of ongoing debate in the tech world.
