MEDIA WATCH | DISNEY MEDIA NETWORKS

Does Disney Actually Value Human Rights?

May I recommend that you immediately terminate the employment of Nancy Dubuc and Paul Buccieri for encouraging this hateful display to continue.

January 14, 2018

Ben Sherwood
President Disney-ABC TV Group

Dear Mr. Sherwood,

The Leah Remini show you are airing that denigrates the Church of Scientology is an affront to human rights and religious freedom, both guaranteed by secular powers greater than A&E and Disney. May I remind you that both the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Amendment 1 to the U.S. Constitution support freedom of religion.

You of course have a right to an opinion about this, but, you are not just expressing an opinion—you are seeking to undermine and attack the faith and beliefs of an entire religion, and you are doing this with lies and spite. This is called hate speech, and it is not an acceptable, socially responsible action. There are laws about hate speech—one wonders if you are legally liable for inciting any violence resulting from this.

May I recommend that you immediately terminate the employment of Nancy Dubuc and Paul Buccieri for encouraging this hateful display to continue. It may not save you from all the consequences of promoting hate, but it would certainly count toward making up the damage you have caused by spreading these lies and hate for profit.

Regards,
Moritz Farbstein,
St. Louis, Mo.