Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk rebuked the Walt Disney Company over its alleged “Inclusion Standards” which he shared online.
The Tesla CEO and X owner condemned the “mandatory, institutionalized racism and sexism” of the entertainment giant in a post sharing an image of the document an “anonymous source” had sent him, purportedly from the Disney company.
“Context is critical when evaluating if a group is ‘underrepresented,'” the document states.
An anonymous source just sent me this from Disney. It is mandatory, institutionalized racism and sexism! pic.twitter.com/npMy8YfA1j
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 6, 2024
In a follow-up tweet, Musk offered legal support for anyone who may have been negatively impacted by the standards: “If you were discriminated against by Disney or its subsidiaries (ABC, ESPN, Marvel, etc), just reply to this post to receive legal support.”
The document shows guidelines for Disney General Entertainment Content in order to foster diversity and inclusion across all of its productions. The four areas included on-screen representation, creative leadership, below the line workers, and industry access and career development.
At least three of the five areas listed in the standards for on-screen representation have to be met. For “Creative Leadership” standards, more than 50% must come from the so-called underrepresented groups.
“Meaningful representation of Underrepresented Groups in senior creative leadership” is also a standard to be met, according to the document.
Standards for industry access and career development require that members of these groups are provided paid employment and training opportunities, as well as first-job placements. They also should be promoted “into a role that constitutes career progression.”
While Musk was outraged by the document, it seems the standards were already publicized in 2020 when ABC, which is owned by Disney, announced the guidelines “intended to make our content and our sets as inclusive as possible, and will serve as a further catalyst for real and sustained change,” said ABC executive vice president of development and content strategy Simran Sethi at the time.
The Hollywood Reporter published that in September 2020. pic.twitter.com/ycbgGGroZW
— Kim Masters (@kimmasters) February 6, 2024
Musk denounced the standards of the company which launched an advertising boycott on X last year. He also got thanks from actress and former professional MMA fighter Gina Carano who sued The Walt Disney Co. and Lucasfilm over her wrongful firing from the series “The Mandalorian” in 2021.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude & thank you to @ElonMusk & @X for giving me an opportunity to bring my case to light,” she wrote on the social media platform.
The list of standards, coupled with Disney’s woke policies over the last few years prompted the Libs of TikTok account on X to suggest Musk take over the iconic company and “fix it.” The X owner responded with a thinking emoji.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 6, 2024
Others weighed in on the specifics of the standards.
So crazy. Imagine if they hired people based on actual talent and skills rather than focusing on what ethnicity or group they come from!
Maybe then they would actually produce good movies again.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) February 6, 2024
This is the Disney stock. Any guesses when they went woke? pic.twitter.com/vxm63vji4Q
— Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) February 6, 2024
I was fired from my woke acting agent just for being a “straight white male.” I am now underrepresented – so am I included in the 50%???
— Tyler Fischer (@TyTheFisch) February 7, 2024
I was fired from my woke acting agent just for being a “straight white male.” I am now underrepresented – so am I included in the 50%???
— Tyler Fischer (@TyTheFisch) February 7, 2024
This is a total contradiction.
The bottom footnote reads “Anyone involved in hiring decisions is prohibited from asking candidates and talent about their actual or perceived race, religion, color, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, military or veteran status, age,…
— Khom Pewter (@KhomPewter) February 7, 2024
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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