MEDIA WATCH | DISNEY MEDIA NETWORKS

Mr. Iger, Is Fairness Not Due One and All?

I want to express gratitude for the courage and moral sensitivity you displayed for supporting the cancellation of the Roseanne series following the hateful and bigoted tweet from Ms. Barr.

June 1, 2018

Mr. Robert Iger
Chairman and CEO

Dear Mr. Iger,

I want to express gratitude for the courage and moral sensitivity you displayed for supporting the cancellation of the Roseanne series following the hateful and bigoted tweet from Ms. Barr.

Does upholding the moral high ground as the CEO of an iconic entertainment company include denouncing anti-religious programming? Would you tolerate a show on one of your networks that was anti-Semitic or anti-Christian? How about anti-Muslim or anti-Buddhist? I imagine your answer would be unequivocally “no.”

Yet A&E continues to run a series which targets my religion. Leah Remini is a disaffected ex-Scientologist on a vendetta to destroy a religion which is a source of comfort and aid to millions around the world. As a new religion, we are in the unenviable position of being “safe” to attack by the media—media that dares not attack other religions or ethnic groups for fear of the intense backlash which would accompany such “reporting.”

Imagine singling out invented or even real wrongdoings by some members of a group and then using those images to tarnish the reputation of the whole group. These are the tactics that have been employed against Jews, Blacks, Muslims and other minorities during times when such impugning was met with silence by the public at large.

That is exactly what Leah Remni’s show has been doing—perpetuating false stereotypes in the pursuit of ratings and consequently advertisers.

I ask you to speak out against this new version of an old smear tactic. Tell A&E Networks to cancel this hateful show. Continue to seek the moral high ground in corporate leadership and goodwill.

If you remain unconvinced, at least take the time to explore our religion, its teachings and numerous good works. Then decide for yourself that it is worth supporting by condemning those who would attempt to dehumanize and destroy it.

One place to start your review might be with the following discourse by a non-Scientologist rabbi on the subject of Scientology.

Thank you. I appreciate your courage and willingness to take a stand against hatred and bigotry in whatever form it rears its ugly head.

Sincerely,

Peter Sokoloff