Disney heiress Abigail Disney has made a career out of trashing her family name. From documentaries about labor conditions to “tell-all” books about to salacious podcast interviews where she calls her great-uncle Walt a fascist she delights in making a mockery of her family name. To hear her tell it, it is all in the name of “activism.” That activism landed her in hot water today.
The heiress to the multi-billion company was arrested today for protesting…the rich. She and 12 other climate change activists were arrested after they illegally shut down an airport in the Hamptons. The protest was aimed at stopping private jets due to their carbon emissions. The small East Hampton Airport primarily services private jets and charter flights. Commercial flights do not go in or out of the airport. The airport is located in a glamorous neighborhood known to be vacation homes of various celebrities and wealthy business executives.
What does climate change have to do with the rich? According to Disney everything. Disney said, “As a person who has been privileged enough to use private jets, I know it’s hard to give up a luxury that is special, but I also know that the time has passed for spewing greenhouse gasses like this merely for our personal comfort.”
Teddy Ogborn, a spokesperson for Planet Over Profit explained that, “These same rich people farting into the Hamptons on private jets are often the ones who make their money in industries that hugely accelerate the climate crisis.”
I guess they forgot that third world countries where there is no “ultra-rich” class are the main proponents of climate-changing emissions. According to Brookings.edu, developing countries “are likely to emit more than half the annual global total of greenhouse gas by 2030.” It’s a lot less comfortable to protest there than the Hamptons though, I suppose.
For her part, Abigail Disney was proud of her arrest and bragged about it on Twitter this evening after posting bail (something only the privileged can afford to do but she probably doesn’t want to discuss that either). She proudly proclaimed she had “popped her mug-shot cherry.”
At 63 I still had not popped my fingerprint/mug shot cherry so I did this. Because the last thing this planet needs is billionaires spewing greenhouse gases to get to their palatial beach homes. Just so wrong. https://t.co/lkGxmXBfwK
It’s interesting that she, a Disney heiress, would be protesting the rich when in 2019 she said this, “To most normal people, what I spend on a really good dinner at a really good restaurant, that would be horrifying.”
The protest at the airport today was just the first of many that the groups Abigail Disney associates with have planned. Tomorrow they plan to protest a golf course in the Hamptons and on Monday they intend to bring pitchforks and gather outside of a CitiBank executive’s home. They stated they are planning their protests strategically to “disrupt public areas in an effort to push leaders to take more aggressive actions to curb global warming.”
The Walt Disney Company has announced the decision to extend CEO Bob Iger’s contract through December 31, 2026, meaning the so-called “boomerang CEO” hangs on.
Veteran Walt Disney Company employee and former Disney CEO Bob Iger retired on December 31, 2021, only to be reinstated less than 11 months later, following the removal of then-CEO Bob Chapek in November 2022. At the time of his reinstatement as CEO, Iger’s new contract was set to expire on December 31, 2023.
Since November, Iger has been tasked with righting the financial ship at the Disney Company, though another part of his responsibilities centered around assisting in the search for his successor and in mentoring that candidate before his departure. But recently, speculation about Disney keeping Iger on just a bit longer gave way to rumors about an announcement from Disney about Iger’s upcoming contract extension. (But then again, DisneyDining predicted such a move in April 2023.)
On Wednesday afternoon, Disney’s board announced that Iger’s contract has indeed been extended through December 31, 2026, adding an additional 24 months to the veteran CEO’s original plans to return to Disney in his former role. Disney’s formal announcement reads as follows:
The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors announced today that Robert A. Iger has agreed to continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer through December 31, 2026. In voting unanimously to extend Iger’s contract by two years, the independent members of the Board of Directors noted that Iger’s extension provides continuity of leadership during the company’s ongoing transformation and allows more time to execute a transition plan for CEO succession, which remains a priority for the Board.
“Time and again, Bob has shown an unparalleled ability to successfully transform Disney to drive future growth and financial returns, earning him a reputation as one of the world’s best CEOs,” said Mark G. Parker, Chairman, The Walt Disney Company. “Bob has once again set Disney on the right strategic path for ongoing value creation, and to ensure the successful completion of this transformation while also allowing ample time to position a new CEO for long-term success, the Board determined it is in the best interest of shareholders to extend his tenure, and he has agreed to our request to remain Chief Executive Officer through the end of 2026.”
Since my return to Disney just seven months ago, I’ve examined virtually every facet of our businesses to fully understand the tremendous opportunities before us, as well as the challenges we’ve been facing from the broader economic environment and the tectonic shifts in our industry. On my first day back, we began making important and sometimes difficult decisions to address some existing structural and efficiency issues, and despite the challenges, I believe Disney’s long-term future is incredibly bright,” said Iger. “But there is more to accomplish before this transformative work is complete, and because I want to ensure Disney is strongly positioned when my successor takes the helm, I have agreed to the Board’s request to remain CEO for an additional two years. The importance of the succession process cannot be overstated, and as the Board continues to evaluate a highly qualified slate of internal and external candidates, I remain intensely focused on a successful transition.”
Iger returned to the company in November of 2022 after serving as CEO and Chairman from 2005 to 2020, and then as Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board through 2021. Since returning as CEO, he has led a significant, enterprise-wide transformation to restore creativity to the center of the company and position Disney’s streaming business for sustained growth and profitability. Throughout his time as the company’s chief executive, Iger’s strategic vision has focused on three fundamental pillars: generating the best creative content possible, fostering innovation and utilizing the latest technology, and expanding into new markets across the globe.
Widely recognized as one of the world’s most consequential business leaders, Iger has built on Disney’s rich history of unforgettable storytelling with the acquisitions of Pixar (2006), Marvel (2009), Lucasfilm (2012), and 21st Century Fox (2019); the landmark opening of Disney’s first theme park and resort in mainland China, Shanghai Disney Resort; and the release of a number of record-setting films, including Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame, Disney’s Frozen and Frozen 2, and Marvel’s groundbreaking Black Panther. Always one to embrace new technology, Iger made Disney an industry leader through its creative content offerings across multiple new platforms, including the highly successful launch of the Disney+ streaming service in November 2019.
Since my return to Disney just seven months ago, I’ve examined virtually every facet of our businesses to fully understand the tremendous opportunities before us, as well as the challenges we’ve been facing from the broader economic environment and the tectonic shifts in our industry. On my first day back, we began making important and sometimes difficult decisions to address some existing structural and efficiency issues, and despite the challenges, I believe Disney’s long-term future is incredibly bright,” said Iger. “But there is more to accomplish before this transformative work is complete, and because I want to ensure Disney is strongly positioned when my successor takes the helm, I have agreed to the Board’s request to remain CEO for an additional two years. The importance of the succession process cannot be overstated, and as the Board continues to evaluate a highly qualified slate of internal and external candidates, I remain intensely focused on a successful transition.”
Iger returned to the company in November of 2022 after serving as CEO and Chairman from 2005 to 2020, and then as Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board through 2021. Since returning as CEO, he has led a significant, enterprise-wide transformation to restore creativity to the center of the company and position Disney’s streaming business for sustained growth and profitability. Throughout his time as the company’s chief executive, Iger’s strategic vision has focused on three fundamental pillars: generating the best creative content possible, fostering innovation and utilizing the latest technology, and expanding into new markets across the globe.
Widely recognized as one of the world’s most consequential business leaders, Iger has built on Disney’s rich history of unforgettable storytelling with the acquisitions of Pixar (2006), Marvel (2009), Lucasfilm (2012), and 21st Century Fox (2019); the landmark opening of Disney’s first theme park and resort in mainland China, Shanghai Disney Resort; and the release of a number of record-setting films, including Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame, Disney’s Frozen and Frozen 2, and Marvel’s groundbreaking Black Panther. Always one to embrace new technology, Iger made Disney an industry leader through its creative content offerings across multiple new platforms, including the highly successful launch of the Disney+ streaming service in November 2019.
Unfortunately, the Walt Disney family lost a beloved member of its animation department. Randy Fullmer was a long-time admired and successful Walt Disney Animation Studios Producer and Effects Animator. Throughout his career, Randy Fullmer made significant contributions to the animation industry, helping to bring memorable characters and stories to life. His work played a crucial role in shaping the success and impact of Walt Disney Animation Studios. He was 73.
Throughout his life, Randall Wyn Fullmer was a film producer known best for his work in animation. Primarily working at Walt Disney Animation Studios, he was involved in various successful and now iconic projects. As a producer, Fullmer collaborated with renowned directors like Ron Clements and John Musker, while contributing to the creation of beloved Disney animated films.
Some of his notable credits include working as an associate producer on The Little Mermaid (1989), as well as producing films like Aladdin (1992) and Mulan (1998). Fullmer also held positions such as a production manager on the critically acclaimed Beauty and the Beast (1991). Randy Fullmer worked on effects animation on Oliver & Company, The Little Mermaid,The Rescuers Down Under, and eventually was an artistic coordinator on The Lion King and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Fullmer was a graduate of CalArts, a school known for birthing animation genius, and ran his own business providing educational content for Sesame Street. He started what would be his 18-year-long career with Walt Disney Animation Studios working on Who Framed Roger Rabbit in 1987.
One of Randy Fullmer’s biggest successes was saving Disney’s The Emperor’s New Groove. Disney animation honored his legacy with this tweet today,
In commemoration of Randy Fullmer’s life of many talents and interests, we share this iconic moment from The Emperor’s New Groove. Randy was producer for The Emperor’s New Groove and Chicken Little, and played a key role in guiding the studio through significant technological shifts in the ’90s. He bridged the artistic and technical departments in multiple films, including The Lion King, The Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin.
Fullmer retired from animation after Chicken Little and produced a documentary, Restrung, about his new passion – making beautiful bass guitars and satisfying his artistic creativity in a new medium.
LEGO enthusiasts and Disney fans alike will be thrilled with the latest creation from LEGO: the LEGO Walt Disney Tribute Camera. This incredible set pays homage to the man behind the magic, Walt Disney, and combines the beloved LEGO and Disney brands in a truly unique way.
Walt Disney is a name that needs no introduction. Known for revolutionizing the entertainment industry, Disney built an empire that continues to capture the hearts of millions around the world. The LEGO Walt Disney Tribute Camera is a nod to the visionary filmmaker and his iconic creations.
The set features a LEGO version of an old-fashioned movie camera, reminiscent of the one used by Disney himself in the early days of animation. It is beautifully designed with intricate details, such as a film strip, giving it an authentic feel. Comprised of 811 bricks, this set is a labor of love and highlights Disney’s influence on the world of cinema. The set also includes a black and white mini-figure of Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse, a Bambi and Dumbo figure, and a mini-figure of Walt Disney himself.
All year long, the Walt Disney Company and LEGO have been collaborating on collections as a way to celebrate the Disney 100 anniversary. This year marks 100 years of the Walt Disney Company, and these LEGO sets are a fun and meaningful way to honor such an occasion.
Preorders for the camera have begun, but it won’t officially be on sale until September 1. The set will cost $99, a standard price for a set of this size. It has been so incredible to watch Disney and LEGO collaborate on so many awesome sets this year, and this one is no exception. It will be so fun to see what is next to come for this iconic collaboration.
Guests sailing onboard the Disney Fantasy beginning July 29 are now invited to purchase DisneyBand+. Additionally, DisneyBand+ continues to be available for guests on Disney Wish sailings. Guests on eligible sailings are able to purchase DisneyBand+ online 45-11 days prior to embarkation.
Click here for more information about this newest technology at sea.
