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The US Federal Communications Commission is beginning to investigate diversity initiatives at Disney and ABC.
In a letter to Disney’s Chief Bob Iger, Brendan Carr, published on X on Friday, said, “I want to ensure that Disney and ABC are not violating the FCC Equal Employment Opportunity Regulations by promoting the mysterious form of Dei discrimination.”
“There are still important concerns,” Carr added, while paying attention to reports that the company has reevaluated certain programs.
“Your company has recently made some changes to the way IT brands certain efforts, but it’s not clear that fundamentally changes to the underlying policy,” he said.
In February, Disney replaced diversity and inclusion as key indicators for setting executive pay as a “talent strategy,” which appears to be a preemptive move against possible actions from the Trump administration.
A Disney spokesman added that the company has reviewed the FCC letter and “looks forward to answering questions to challenge the committee.”
In December, Disney paid $15 million to Donald Trump’s Presidential Library to settle a honour-loss lawsuit brought against ABC. Trump sued the network after anchoring George Stephanopulos and then broadcast the former president that he was found to be “liable for rape.” A New York ju-degree judge found Trump was liable for a civil sexual abuse lawsuit, but not rape.
The settlement plucked fire from media lawyers. Media lawyers were afraid it would set a precedent that could potentially bring down the press.
The investigation marks the Trump administration’s latest broadside diversity initiative, with the US president recently issued an executive order that chides law firms for their diversity practices.
On his first day back in the White House, Trump signed an executive order in January that aimed to “end” the “radical and wasted” government diversity, equity and inclusion programme. He directed leaders of federal agencies to end initiatives in areas such as “fairness” and “environmental justice.”
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In recent weeks, the company has been in the conservative crosshairs over the release of Snow White, the latest live-action remake of Disney Classic. Describing “Woke Disney,” they opposed the omitted from the 1937 film song “Someday My Prince Come” and comments by film star Rachel Zegler.
Carr also indicates that he intends to investigate the CBS network. Trump has called for CBS to lose his license for what he claims was a deceptive compilation of a 60-minute interview with Democrat opponent Kamala Harris, who lost the November election. However, Kerr said the interview will be part of his review of the merger between Skydance and Paramount, which own CBS.
