The Walt Disney Co joined other major companies in indefinitely suspending donations to U.S. lawmakers who voted against President-elect Joe Biden’s election certification.
Disney, the entertainment company, said in a statement that in the “immediate aftermath of that appalling siege, members of Congress had an opportunity to unite — an opportunity that some sadly refused to embrace. In light of these events, we have decided we will not make political contributions in 2021 to lawmakers who voted to reject the certification of the Electoral College votes.”
Disney CEO Bob Chapek condemned the violent act of rioters at the U.S. Capitol, noting that Wednesday’s unprecedented fatal events marked “a sad and tragic day for our country, one unlike any other in our history,” as you can see in the tweet below:
A message from CEO Bob Chapek pic.twitter.com/57W51qkM8j
— Walt Disney Company (@WaltDisneyCo) January 8, 2021
That’s significant news in Florida, where the Walt Disney Company operates its largest theme park and resort property. Florisa Sen. Rick Scott objected to Pennsylvania’s slate of electors and 12 members of the House objected to both Pennsylvania and Arizona.
The Center for Responsive Politics reports the Walt Disney Company made more than $19 million in federal political donations in the 2020 cycle alone. The corporation wrote checks for candidates on both sides of the aisle, donating nearly $1.2 million to Biden’s Presidential campaign but also almost $656,000 to the Republican National Committee and nearly $627,000 to the DNC Services Corp.
AT&T, parent company of WarnerMedia, and Comcast, parent of NBCUniversal, announced on Monday that they would be suspending contributions, joining a host of other companies including Marriott, Blue Cross Blue Shield and American Express.