COMBATING BIGOTRY & HATE | SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

Disney: Oh, the Hypocrisy!

I really hate hypocrisy.

Hypocrisy: the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform; pretense.

So let’s examine Disney’s unmitigated hypocrisy when it comes to “values.”

Just recently, Guardians of the Galaxy director, James Gunn, was fired for a series of “provocative tweets” from decades ago which were, in turn, characterized by Alan Horn, Walt Disney Studios chairman, as “indefensible and inconsistent with our studio’s values” and for which “we have severed our business relationship with him.”

This despite the fact that Guardians of the Galaxy, Pt. 2 grossed over $860 million worldwide and the move drew the ire of fans and most participants in the franchise.

A representation of Walt Disney with Disney characters

Disney’s ABC Television group also summarily dismissed Rosanne Barr and cancelled her show literally within hours of a tweet about a political figure. ABC TV Group chairman Ben Sherwood said, “In the end, it came down to doing what’s right and upholding our values of inclusion, tolerance, and civility.”

Even the voice of Kermit the Frog, Steve Whitmire, was fired after 27 years, reportedly for being outspoken about character issues. The statement from Muppet Studios, also owned by Disney, reads unironically, “The role of Kermit the Frog is an iconic one that is beloved by fans and we take our responsibility to protect the integrity of that character very seriously.”

I would like to take Disney’s integrity seriously too, except for their complete lack of character and values on display over at A&E. Disney-owned A&E has just renewed Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, the entire premise of which is discriminatory and offensive, and this despite outcries and ratings which have fallen by over 50 percent since its debut.

It’s almost like Disney wants to attack my religion. I mean, it claims to uphold “values of inclusion, tolerance, and civility” but forgets what is “indefensible and inconsistent” with those values when it comes to someone’s church.

So weird. So hypocritical.

In the end, it comes down to “doing what’s right.”

Right?

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AUTHOR

Stacy Sass

Stacy owns and runs a construction business in Austin, Texas, and is also the proud mom of two young men. She has been very active in her local Church of Scientology for over 25 years.

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