The Big Picture

Vincent Boland: Disney’s magic kingdom finds itself at the centre of a culture war

The entertainment giant might be going from strength to strength financially, but political turmoil in the once liberal Sunshine State and demands from an activist investor now threaten it from all sides

Disney, where the emphasis is on fantasy, is being forced to confront the real world. Picture: John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock

At the beginning of this year, everything seemed to be tickety-boo in the Wonderful World of Disney. The US entertainment giant famous for its blockbuster movies was preparing for a bumper season as people returned to the cinema after the easing of pandemic restrictions. Crowds and queues were back at Disney World and its other theme parks. It was emerging as a winner in the streaming wars. Investors loved Disney, too – profits were up, ...