It appears that the recent feud between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and entertainment giant Disney has come to a somewhat anticlimactic conclusion. A complex conflict began when DeSantis swore vengeance against Disney for a mild rebuke of his anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. The fiery exchange took numerous turns, from involvement with the Lilibet of Sussex and the Rule Against Perpetuities, remedial civil procedure screw-ups, to a direct hit from the United States Supreme Court.
The conflict reached a quiet end when Disney agreed to forgo a highly publicized and amusing deal with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, formerly the Reedy Creek Improvement District. This deal granted Disney effective control over the district until 21 years after the last surviving descendant of King Charles’s demise. Supporters of DeSantis are hailing this concession as a DeSantis victory. However, a closer examination of the settlement agreement, helpfully scanned by Politico, suggests a different narrative.
The feud started when DeSantis, once optimistic of his presidential prospects, implemented a series of policies aimed at countering “wokeness.” This included the infamous ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, an education provision prohibiting schools from acknowledging the existence of gay people. This law has since been majorly overturned. Disney lightly criticized this edict, which led to DeSantis targeting Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District; the fallout from which is still evident today.
It’s important to note that the final settlement seems to be more in Disney’s favour than DeSantis. Stephanie Kopelousos, a DeSantis appointee who spent her career shielding Disney from DeSantis’s schemes, now heads the district. Additionally, the agreement invalidates the new board’s actions and reverts to the pre-2020 status under the previous Disney board.
Furthermore, the settlement agreement stops short of wrapping up ongoing litigation and waiving liability. The Eleventh Circuit is upholding an appeal, a move that continues to serve as pressure during negotiations between Disney and the governing district. Considering these concessions, it seems that even while DeSantis did secure some small victories, any talk of a ‘win’ remains questionable.
As the dust settles on this convoluted legal battle, it is clear that the reality contrasts significantly with the narrative woven by DeSantis’s supporters. Despite the publicized ‘victory’ announcement, this resolution suggests a far more nuanced negotiation took place. For a more in-depth review of the situation, please consider reading the original article on Above the Law.