US President Donald Trump’s Federal Communications Commissioner (FCC) has launched an investigation into The Walt Disney Co. amid concerns of Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) ‘discrimination’.
On March 27, Brendan Carr, the Chairman of the FCC of the United States, notified Disney CEO Robert ‘Bob’ Iger via letter that the Enforcement Bureau would be opening an investigation into the company and ABC.
“In particular, I want to ensure that Disney and ABC have not been violating FCC equal employment opportunity regulations by promoting invidious forms of DEI discrimination,” the document reads.
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“While I have seen reports that Disney recently walked back some of its DEI programs, significant concerns remain.”
Carr went on to say that the investigation’s purpose is to ensure The Walt Disney Co. ‘ends any and all discriminatory initiatives’ in substance, not just name.
He also stated that he wants the probe to ‘determine’ whether or not the entertainment company has always ‘complied’ with ‘applicable FCC regulations.
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“As you know, Disney started out a century ago as an iconic American company. For decades, Disney focused on churning out box office and programming successes. But then something changed.
“Disney has now been embroiled in rounds of controversy surrounding its DEI policies,” the letter outlined.
“Numerous reports indicate that Disney’s leadership went all in on invidious forms of DEI discrimination a few years ago and apparently did so in a manner that infected many aspects of your company’s decisions.”
Carr also made his ‘concern’ for ABC and its parent company clear, adding it may ‘have been or may still be promoting invidious forms of DEI in a manner that does not comply with FCC regulations’.
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These alleged concerns included a one-time policy at Disney-owned ABC that at least 50 percent of characters in TV pilots be from underrepresented groups.
The Associated Press writes that Disney made policy changes last month, which included eliminating a website designed to highlight personalities and stories from underrepresented communities.
It’s also alleged the company updates some of its pre-film warnings to read softer, changing: ‘negative depictions and/or mistreatment of peoples or culture’ messages to ‘this program is presented as originally created and may contain stereotypes or negative depictions.’
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A Disney spokesperson has since told The New York Times that the company looks ‘forward to engaging with the commission to answer its questions.’
The FCC has also announced it’s probing Verizon and Comcast DEI practices as well as NBCUniversal also taking place
The investigations come as part of the Republican government’s crackdown.
Yesterday (April 3), a memo was sent to state officials nationwide yesterday that threatened to withhold federal funding from public schools that have not eliminated DEI practices, as per The Guardian.
Topics: Disney, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Politics, US News, TV And Film
Ella Scott