When you think you’ve heard it all, Disney surprises you yet again. This time, it seems that Disney hired former Trump family lawyer Charles Harder to go after a book being published about former CEO Bob Iger.
The book is written by former Wall Street Journal journalist Robbie Whelan, who Disney claims has written negative things about Iger before. (Frankly, who hasn’t at this point? He gives people plenty to work with.)
If he wrote “lies” before, why didn’t Disney try to stop him then or sue for libel?
Why is Disney trying to stop the book?
The working theory from Puck News is that Bob Iger has thin skin and wants to control anything said about him.
Apparently, the book was announced in 2023 under a working title of The House of Mouse: Bob Iger and the Fight for the Soul of Disney.
Now Harder, who also took down Gawker, has reportedly sent “multiple threatening letters to publisher Harper Collins, seeking information about the book’s contents and slamming Whelan…In the letters, Disney points to previous negative coverage by Whelan, fishes for clues as to what is being included, and demands sufficient time to “fact check” the book.”
Iger, I mean “Disney” is apparently worried that this book will be an “unvarnished portrait of one of the most famous C.E.O.s of the past 50 years, including his abrupt Disney exit as the pandemic began in 2020 and his return to power less than two years later.”
Is it going to cover the reports of Iger sabotaging Bob Chapek?
When did Harder’s campaign against the book start?
That’s the interesting part. Harder started sending letters to Harper Collins before Bob Iger stepped down as CEO. Meaning Iger is trying to stop a book about himself using Disney’s power and possibly money.
Puck News said, “Iger is said to be a driving force behind what certainly smells like a campaign of intimidation. Disney and Whelan declined to comment.”
Iger is notoriously protective of his image.
Disney has punished news outlets before.
The report correctly points out that Disney has gone after media outlets that “crossed” Disney / Iger, including banning the L.A. Times from movie screenings nine years ago because they criticized Disney on its treatment of Anaheim.
Whatever the reason, Disney hired a notorious lawyer to stop a book about an ex-CEO. Sounds a bit drastic, doesn’t it?
What? Is no one allowed to criticize Bob Iger?
Too late, a lot of people do all the time.
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