Disney Versus DeSantis: A Timeline of the Florida Political Feud

A governor-appointed tourism board in Florida on Monday voted to sue the Walt Disney Co., just days after the company sued Ron DeSantis on the grounds that he engaged in a political effort to hurt its business. It’s the latest escalation in a dispute that started more than a year ago.

DeSantis’s criticism of Disney over its perceived liberal agenda, like backing LGBTQ+ rights and other social issues, has struck a chord with conservative voices. Yet he’s also faced criticism for taking things too far. Disney is one of Central Florida’s top taxpayers, contributing more than $1.1 billion in state and local taxes last year, and it’s one of the largest employers in the state with tens of thousands of workers.

Here's a timeline of the fight:

March 8, 2022: Florida’s Senate passes legislation to limit instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation from kindergarten to third grade, enabling parents to more easily sue schools.

March 9: Facing an internal uproar after not taking a stand on the controversial law, former Disney Chief Executive Officer Bob Chapek says he opposes the legislation. He tells investors he had called DeSantis that morning to "to express our disappointment and concern.”