Abigail Disney said her grandfather is “spinning in his grave” over apparent Nazi protesters who descended on Walt Disney World Resort to rail against the family-friendly theme park’s values.
The 63-year-old granddaughter of Roy E. Disney, who co-founded the Walt Disney company with his brother Walt Disney, responded to video of people waving fascist flags while demonstrating outside “The Most Magical Place on Earth” in Orlando, Fla., Saturday.
“My grandfather is spinning in his grave,” Abigail Disney tweeted.
She’s a self-described “philanthropist and social activist” who makes films and hosts a podcast.
Video posted over the weekend by Florida state Rep. Anna V. Eskamani shows activists waving swastika flags and displaying imagery supportive of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The conservative governor has repeatedly attacked what he calls the Disney company’s “woke” business practices, which include supporting LGBTQ+ rights and revamping rides with insensitive themes many believed haven’t aged well.
DeSantis, who announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election last month, married Casey DeSantis at Disney World in 2009. His ongoing grievance with the company was fueled largely by Disney executives’ decision in March to oppose legislation restricting the way Florida schools address sexual orientation.
Neo-Nazis demonstrated outside a Tampa convention center in July carrying signs reading “DeSantis Country,” according to Rolling Stone. Critics have accused the governor of not going far enough to condemn such groups, which he once called “jackasses,” while blaming Democrats for politicizing fascist activism. This, despite a 51% increase in antisemitic harassment between 2021 and 2022, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
The NAACP released a travel advisory last month warning Florida was “openly hostile toward African-Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.”
DeSantis’ spokesman dismissed that advisory as a “stunt” and boasted of the state’s robust tourism industry.
USA Today said Saturday’s demonstration by far-right wing provocateurs consisted of roughly 15 people.