Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Raquel Lee Bolleau files negligence lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company
Lawsuit filed
Raquel Lee Bolleau, a former child actress, filed a negligence lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company. In the filing, she alleged that at age 14 she was sexually abused and assaulted by an unidentified middle-aged male employee who was involved in the filming of the 2001 Disney Channel movie The Poof Point. The lawsuit names The Walt Disney Company as the defendant and concerns the alleged conduct connected to that production.
Former child actress Raquel Lee Bolleau filed a negligence lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company alleging she was sexually abused and assaulted at age 14 by an unidentified middle-aged male employee involved in the filming of the 2001 Disney Channel movie The Poof Point.
Stated objective. To stop heirs from reclaiming rights to characters and establish ownership of character rights.
Company response
Denial — 20th Television
There are no differences in our process or decision-making based on an employee's race.
Denial — The Walt Disney Company
“There is no merit whatsoever to this filing. The lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Source excerpt
Former child actress Raquel Lee, now known as Raquel Lee Bolleau, has filed a negligence lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company, alleging that she was sexually abused and assaulted by an unidentified “middle-aged, male employee who was involved in the filming of” the 2001 Disney Channel original movie The Poof Point.
ABC alleges that FCC chief Brendan Carr has launched investigations and challenged its local station licenses because of Trump's anger over its news coverage and late-night satire.
The Walt Disney Company filed suit today on behalf of its broadcast network, ABC, against the Federal Communications Commission.
2022
Disney pauses Florida political donations
Company response
The Walt Disney Company said it was pausing all political donations in Florida pending a review of its political giving framework, following criticism of the company’s response to the Florida bill. CEO Bob Chapek apologized to employees.
Stated objective. Ensure the company’s advocacy better reflects its values.
Company response
Apology — The Walt Disney Company
I am sorry.
Source excerpt
Thank you to all who have reached out to me sharing your pain, frustration and sadness over the company’s response to the Florida “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
And today, we are pausing all political donations in the state of Florida pending this review.
2020
Disney waives school screening fee and apologizes
Company response
The Walt Disney Company said it would not pursue a $250 licensing fee that had been demanded after Emerson Elementary screened The Lion King. CEO Robert Iger apologized to the school's PTA and said he would personally donate to the school's fundraising initiative. The controversy centered on the licensing fee sought from the school following its screening of the film.
Company response
Apology — The Walt Disney Company
On Thursday morning, Disney’s Chairman and CEO Robert Iger said on Twitter that the company apologizes to the PTA.
Remediation — The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company has not only waived a $250 fee it previously demanded for a Lion King screening at Emerson Elementary
Source excerpt
The Walt Disney Company has not only waived a $250 fee it previously demanded for a Lion King screening at Emerson Elementary, but the conglomerate’s CEO has pledged to personally donate to the Berkeley school.
On Thursday morning, Disney’s Chairman and CEO Robert Iger said on Twitter that the company apologizes to the PTA.
“Disney has instructed us to not pursue the fee for this situation,” she said.
2020
Artist sues Disney and Pixar over alleged van-design copying
Lawsuit filed
Artist Sweet Cecily Daniher filed suit against Disney and Pixar, alleging that they copied the design of a van she owns without permission for the film Onward. The complaint alleges copying; the supplied article does not report a court determination.
Source excerpt
Daniher filed suit Monday in the United States District Court’s Northern District of California saying through her lawyers Pixar stole her design for a vehicle she owns she calls the “Vanicorn.”
Weeks ahead of the release of Onward, The Walt Disney Company has been hit with a lawsuit by artist Sweet Cecily Daniher, alleging Disney-Pixar copied the design of a van she owns without permission.
the iconic instrumental opening rips off the theme song from a 1980s Hungarian TV show called X-Men: The Animated Series, and you can listen to both songs below to see if you think he has a point.Linda
2019
Michael Jackson estate settles lawsuit against Disney and ABC
Settlement
The Michael Jackson estate settled its 2018 lawsuit against the Walt Disney Company and ABC over a television special that the estate said used unauthorized material. The source does not specify settlement terms.
Source excerpt
The estate of Michael Jackson has settled a 2018 lawsuit against the Walt Disney Company and ABC, according to court documents viewed by Pitchfork.
The suit was over a TV special titled , which the estate said used unauthorized material.The Last Days of Michael Jackson
2019
Union sues Disneyland over living-wage and subsidy claims
Lawsuit filed
A union representing Disneyland workers sued to compel the resort to pay a living wage. The lawsuit alleges that Disney is taking a subsidy related to a parking garage; Disney and the city disagree with the union’s position. Disneyland’s spokeswoman said the union knew the city attorney had previously concluded Measure L did not apply to the resort.
Company response
Denial — Disneyland
Both the resort and the city disagree.
Source excerpt
Disneyland spokeswoman Liz Jaeger told the media.
A union representing workers at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, is suing to force the resort to pay them a “living wage.”
2019
Disney Japan apologizes over Frozen 2 promotion
Company response
The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd. apologized for promoting Frozen 2 through third-party tweets that were not flagged as advertisements, after the content drew criticism on Japanese social media as apparent stealth marketing.
Company response
Apology — The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd.
The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd. on Thursday apologized for promoting its animated movie "Frozen 2" through third-party tweets not flagged as advertisements
Source excerpt
The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd. on Thursday apologized for promoting its animated movie "Frozen 2" through third-party tweets not flagged as advertisements, after criticism of the content as an apparent stealth marketing campaign went viral on Japanese social media.
2019
Committee files antitrust complaint against Disney over Frozen 2 screen allocation
Lawsuit filed
The Public Welfare Committee filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office alleging that Disney violated South Korea's monopoly laws by showing Frozen 2 on 88 percent of local screens two days after its opening. The source reports an allegation, not a legal determination.
Source excerpt
The Public Welfare Committee, in its complaint filed with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office on Sunday, revealed that Disney breached the country's monopoly laws by showing the film to 88 percent of local screens two days after it opened on Nov. 23.
1941
Animation labor strike
Hundreds of Disney animators went on strike over union recognition, compensation, and workplace conditions. The dispute lasted several weeks and permanently affected relationships between management and many artists.