OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has to be celebrating as one of the Disney executives who spoke against legislation he signed that prevented teachers from teaching about LGBTQ issues sans parental consent is now gone from the company.
Peter Rice, who served as the General Entertainment Content chairman, who said he saw “this law as a violation of fundamental human rights,” was fired by Disney CEO Bob Chapek, who also spoke against the legislation.
Rice was replaced by Dana Walden, one of the people close to the CEO and a top executive at Disney, the company announced in a press release.
“Dana is a dynamic, collaborative leader and cultural force who in just three years has transformed our television business into a content powerhouse that consistently delivers the entertainment audiences crave,” the CEO said. “Her well-earned reputation for championing creative talent and developing programming that truly captures the cultural zeitgeist has resulted in hit after hit, from ABC’s Abbott Elementary and Onyx Collective’s Academy Award-winning Summer of Soul, to Hulu Originals like Only Murders in the Building, Dopesick, The Dropout and The Kardashians. She and Peter have worked closely together for years to create the best programming in the industry, and I can think of no one better than Dana to lead Disney General Entertainment to even greater heights.”
“It is an incredible honor to be asked to lead this amazingly talented team—they are truly the absolute best in every respect—and I am grateful to Bob for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Walden said in the press release. “Disney General Entertainment’s culture of creative excellence and originality has made us home to many of the most talented creators in the business. I am humbled to lead this team, and I am confident that together, we will continue to build on the foundation of culture-defining entertainment we have achieved so far.”
“During her 25 years at 21st Century Fox, the studios overseen by Walden amassed 184 Emmy® wins, 29 Golden Globes®, 17 Screen Actors Guild Awards and 24 Peabody Awards and Humanitas Prizes. Additionally, Walden was responsible for numerous No. 1 broadcast hits like This Is Us, Empire and Glee, to multiple Emmy Award winners Modern Family, Homeland, Ally McBeal, Arrested Development, The Practice and Boston Legal. Other landmark series overseen by Walden include 24, How I Met Your Mother, New Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She has also overseen along with John Landgraf the long and successful partnership between 20th Television and FX and FX Productions, resulting in The Americans, Sons of Anarchy, Pose, American Horror Story and the American Crime Story franchise,” the press release said.
Rice sent a memo to the staff informing them of his departure.
“Hi everyone, I am incredibly sad that this will be the last ‘weekend read’ that I will be sending you. It has been such a pleasure and a privilege to work alongside each of you here at Disney and many of you at 21st Century Fox,” he said.
“I am so proud of the work we have done together, the friendships we have forged and the consistent success we have celebrated. We have the honor of working in the world’s greatest and most creative industry at a time of enormous change,” he said.
“In the midst of this, together we have created amazing and award-winning television shows and I am eternally grateful for your kindness and generosity on the journey. As I depart Disney, may I leave you with a last thought: remain committed to excellence and always recognize that our stories are dependent upon the imagination and artistry of the writers, directors, producers, actors, and craftsman that we have engaged to call Disney home,” the ousted executive said.
“It has been so much fun to collaborate with them to bring their ideas to life. So, while I will no longer be riding along beside you, I wish you happy trails and hope that our paths will cross again,” he said.
