Striking writers now have a new punching bag: Bob Iger.
After telling CNBC’s David Faber Thursday that the labor situation is “very troubling” and how Hollywood unions are not realistic about the current financial climate, WGA protesters pointed to the huge pay disparity between Disney CEOs and Posted on social media while doing. Most prolific author today.
In a lengthy meeting with CNBC from Sun Valley, Idaho, Iger addressed the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes and his ongoing feud with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Although his sarcasm at DeSantis was lauded—he called the governor’s claims “nonsensical and false” that Disney is sexually abusing children—he called for his resignation when he said “this is the worst time in the world”. Tinseltown lost the rank and file.
Iger said, “I understand the desire of any labor organization to work on behalf of its members so that they get the most and that they get compensated fairly based on the value they bring.” “As an industry, we managed to negotiate a very good deal with the Directors Guild, which shows the value directors contribute to this great business. We wanted to do the same thing with the writers and we wanted to do the same thing with the actors. There is a level of expectation from them, which is not realistic. And they’re exacerbating the challenges that this business is already facing, which are, frankly, very disruptive.
Iger’s comments came days before the start of quarterly earnings season, when dozens of public companies will hold talks with Wall Street analysts and will undoubtedly be asked about the labor impasse. Netflix will report its earnings next Wednesday and many major media and tech players will follow later this month. While companies exercise a great deal of control over earnings calls and can choose analysts to ask certain types of questions during the Q&A period, there are often moments of scrutiny for striking guild members.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, who has become the main target of several picket signs during the WGA walkout, spoke to CNBC on the morning of WBD’s last earnings report about the “love of working” shared by both the WGA and AMPTP. Eventually the strike will end. However, the topic of labor did not come up during the official earnings call.
However, Iger was the first to jump into the fray – and faced immense vitriol. view this tweet abigail disney, documentary filmmaker who is also the daughter of Roy E. Disney. “You can only call your employees and partners “unrealistic” if you cannot see beyond the very narrow and morally bankrupt business ideology that has set your company on a long path toward exploitation and injustice, ” she wrote.
Here are other reactions to Iger’s comments, including a dig at Zaslav and how he must be enjoying his moment Outside in the limelight for once. (Disney did not comment on the responses when contacted by Deadline.)