Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Walt Disney's brother Roy Disney successful, Eisner fired as Chairman at Disney production.

Mar 3, 2004 11:10PM PST
http://money.cnn.com/2004/03/03/news/companies/disney/index.htm

The board of Walt Disney Co. late
Wednesday stripped CEO Michael Eisner of his role as chairman
after about 43 percent of shareholders voted to oppose his
re-election to the company's board.

The board opted to separate the positions of chairman and chief executive at
a meeting that followed what was an often quarrelsome five-hour annual
shareholder meeting in Philadelphia earlier in the day. It unanimously elected
former U.S. Senator George Mitchell chairman....

Following Wednesday's vote, California's
Calpers, the nation's largest pension fund, called for Eisner to resign by the
end of the year and urged Disney to split the role of chairman and CEO....

"It is an unprecedented no-confidence
vote in the annals of American
business," Gold said....

Calabrese at Argus Research said he doubts the board would seek to
immediately replace Eisner as CEO because of Wednesday's vote. But he
added that the backlash against Eisner could hasten his eventual departure
from the company. "I expect the board to come out with a succession plan
rather rapidly and possibly give us a date for when Eisner leaves," he said.

Calabrese said he would not be surprised if Eisner stepped down by early
2005....

Hodgson added that nothing less than Eisner's departure would be needed in
order to silence Gold and Disney. Representatives for neither of them could
be reached late Wednesday for comment on Eisner's ouster as chairman....

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
The Call by Roy Disney and Stanley Gold to remove Eisner and others.
Mar 3, 2004 11:44PM PST
http://www.savedisney.com/letters/just_say_no.asp

Links are at the page above to the resignation letters of Disney and Gold, which they did as a strong protest of Eisner and his cohorts. There is another statement by Gold and Disney here at the annual stockholder's meeting

Dear Fellow Walt Disney Company Shareholders:

Now is the time for all Disney shareholders to take the first step to bring needed change to The Walt Disney Company. We ask each of you to
join us in our campaign to change senior management's and the Board's "business as usual" attitude at Disney.

Join us in voting NO on the re-election of Michael Eisner, George Mitchell, Judith Estrin, and John Bryson as Directors at the Wednesday,
March 3 Annual Meeting of Shareholders in Philadelphia.

Eight weeks ago, we resigned from the Board of Directors to vividly demonstrate our dissatisfaction with the direction and management of The
Walt Disney Company. Our resignation letters, which can be easily accessed on our website www.savedisney.com, describe in detail our
reasons. In particular, our ongoing concern is that the Company's senior management has been unable to generate long-term growth and
performance and that the Board of Directors has failed to hold management accountable for its failures.



SEND A MESSAGE TO EISNER AND THE BOARD

By just saying NO you will send a message the Board of Directors cannot ignore. By withholding your vote from these four directors - who we
believe are representative of what is wrong at Disney - you will force the Board to recognize the widespread conviction that serious changes in
both senior management and the Board are necessary.

NO ON EISNER AND NO ON ESTRIN, MITCHELL AND BRYSON

We are seeking a NO vote on Michael Eisner and also a NO vote on George Mitchell, Judith Estrin and John Bryson because they symbolize,
respectively, the poor management, poor governance, poor compensation practices, and lack of board independence that are impeding the
development of long-term shareholder value at The Walt Disney Company. (more at page link, especially itemization of why each person should be removed.)
- Collapse -
Re:The Call by Roy Disney and Stanley Gold to remove Eisner and others.
Mar 3, 2004 11:52PM PST

I saw a clip of Eisner this morning, trying to put a positive spin on it and talking about how much he loves the company. Of course if I had his salary I'd love my company too.....

- Collapse -
I saw one quote of 700 million $ in the past 10 years or less. [nt]
Mar 4, 2004 1:21AM PST

.

- Collapse -
I have actively been avoiding Disney products for several years now.
Mar 3, 2004 11:56PM PST

Too bad they changed their focus from fun and entertainment to pushing a PC agenda. I didn't appreciate their attempt to push particular ideologies at my daughter.

- Collapse -
It's worse than that. Hear about Ludmilla, the "fishy" bisexual character in the new Mermaid movie?
Mar 4, 2004 1:13AM PST
As their Pixar collaboration, Finding Nemo, sets box office
records, the Walt Disney Company is quietly celebrating another victory: the
introduction of Ludmila, the first bi-sexual cartoon character, who appears in
the straight-to-video release Little Mermaid III: King Triton's Lagoon.
"We didn't make a big deal of it, because we didn't think it was a big deal," said
Disney spokesperson Mandy Wright, acknowledging that Ludmila was "of
non-traditional sexual orientation."
(more at page link)

http://www.christianmusictv.com/sick_entertainment_.htm
- Collapse -
Thanks! That site is too funny! :-) -nt
Mar 4, 2004 1:27AM PST

.

- Collapse -
Yeah? Then you'll die laughing at this one.
Mar 4, 2004 1:49AM PST
http://www.stopgaydays.com/news_article.htm

Christian Action Network released its exclusive video called "Gay Days at Disney Gone Wild!" at a national press conference in Washington D.C. on August 5th, 2003. The event was held at the Washington Hilton and Towers in Washington , D.C. "This is the most explosive videotape ever produced by Christian Action Network," said Martin Mawyer, president of CAN. "This videotape documents the last six-year history of Gay Days at Walt Disney World. And because Disney has refused to address our concerns, we are releasing footage never previously exposed to the American public," said Mr. Mawyer. The footage revealed homosexuals engaged in: (more at website link above)
- Collapse -
Re:Yeah? Then you'll die laughing at this one.
Mar 4, 2004 2:16AM PST

If any visitors to the park engaged in acts that were illegal or violated park rules, then those visitors should be dealt with accordingly.

But posting warning signs at the entrances? "Warning! You may encounter homosexuals within the park today!"

Got news for ya. You may encounter them walking down the street and in the supermarket too. Should there be warning signs for every group that some visitors might feel offended by? "Warning! You may encounter African-Americans during your visit to the Magic Kingdom!"

- Collapse -
Re:Yeah? Then you'll die laughing at this one.
Mar 4, 2004 2:24AM PST

Lewd behavior is nothing new at Disney. It's been going on for years and it's not likely to stop. Do a search on "flash mountain" to find the most publicized examples(at your own risk).

Dan

- Collapse -
Oh man, that was a hoot. Check out this portion of the article:
Mar 4, 2004 2:07AM PST
SpongeBob and the other characters released a joint statement saying they were "pleased that appropriate representation will be given to the large number of gay children's characters who work hard to make this industry what it is."

But family values organizations are extending their partial boycott of Disney products, which was launched in 1996 after Disney gave benefits to gay partners of employees. The boycott will now include Disney toothpaste and other hygiene products, which were exempt from the original boycott.

"Now we're hitting them where they hurt ? in the lucrative dental care market," said Allan Johannesen, spokesman for the groups. "We'll make them pay this time."


James, CLEARLY this is some kind of put-on.
- Collapse -
Another spoof site. Same story. Satire.
Mar 4, 2004 2:32AM PST
http://larknews.com/june15_2003/

Disney quietly introduces Ludmila, the bi-sexual fish; gay children's characters cheer
BURBANK ? As their Pixar collaboration,Finding Nemo, sets box office records, the Walt Disney Company is quietly celebrating another victory: the introduction of Ludmila, the first bi-sexual cartoon character, who appears in the straight-to-video release Little Mermaid III: King Triton's Lagoon. "We didn't make a big deal of it, because we didn't think it was a big deal," said Disney spokesperson Mandy Wright, acknowledging that Ludmila was "of non-traditional sexual orientation."
- Collapse -
I guess the site you initially linked to missed the joke
Mar 4, 2004 2:42AM PST

Perhaps it was their zeal to support their cause that resulted in them overlooking the hysterically obvious.

- Collapse -
I began to realize that when;
Mar 4, 2004 2:51AM PST

I was running a search for the video at Amazon.com and didn't find it. So I ran a google on king Triton's lagoon and found the spoof site. I'm guessing someone sent it to the other website author in an email.

Anyway, the Gay Day at Disney is probably what precipitated people taking a closer look at what Eisner was up to at Disney, to investigate the subsidiaries, and didn't like what they were seeing AT ALL. I don't know where a credible source is, but Eisner is reported to have told Elizabeth Birch, director of HRC, that Disney employee force was 40% homosexual.

If that is true, since homosexuals comprise about 2% of the population overall, there certainly seems to be a hiring bias going on at Disney.

- Collapse -
I think it's simpler (and less sinister) than that, James
Mar 4, 2004 3:18AM PST

I'd guess that a lot of the people hired to play characters are wannabe actors. Acting is a profession that draws a lot of homosexuals; therefore it would follow that many of these Disney employees may be gay.

Your speculation that "Gay Days" was the impetus for the vote on Eisner is just that. If you have evidence to back it up, please post it.

- Collapse -
Wasn't Disney one of the first large corporations to extend spousal like benefits to gay partners?
Mar 5, 2004 9:23PM PST

One of the first to do it and make it fairly well known anyway?

If so, that would be even simplier reason they might have a larger percentage of openly gay employees than than the estimated percentage of gays in general population.

RogerNC

click here to email

semods4@yahoo.com

- Collapse -
gay children is an oxymoron
Mar 4, 2004 1:47AM PST

Children, at least young ones, are not yet aware of sexuality. This is part of what I'm concerned about with Disney, but the site linked to is not helping its cause with spelling errors, etc. I googled for 'Coalition for Gay Children's Characters' and basically got only this site mentioning it. I'm sure we'll hear more about it if it's true.

- Collapse -
Re:gay children is an oxymoron
Mar 4, 2004 1:54AM PST

KP, How could you read this paragraph and not see it as satire? Although it would have been an interesting meeting!

Dan


***
The lobby group, the Coalition for gay children's entertainers, brought its biggest names to the table to push for gay inclusion: SpongeBob Squarepants, Bert and Ernie from PBS's Sesame Street and the Teletubbies' Tinkie-Winkie. Pee Wee Herman, serving prison time in Florida, was represented by his lawyer.
To seal the pledge, Disney's Michael Eisner said his company would depict the first gay cartoon kiss in Aladdin IV: Gene and Genie, scheduled for release around Christmas 2004. The movie will show the Genie living with his male lover, Gene. Robin Williams will reprise his role as the title character.
***

- Collapse -
Sorry, I'm not 'up' on the gay scene.
Mar 4, 2004 5:12AM PST

Nothing would surprise me. That's why I googled it, and didn't launch into a tirade.

- Collapse -
It may be time Kiddpeat...
Mar 4, 2004 2:25AM PST

It may be time, Kiddpeat, to mention something I noticed and mentally "sat upon" for a couple of years.
Killing time, as always, I went to scheduled cartoons before (but close) to 6:00 A.M. EST on cable. I saw Bugs Bunny or Daffy Duck on something like Showtime (AIR, might have geen something like HBO). I went to it for that 30 minutes. 6:00 came upon the clock, and they went from cartooons to a program called, "Why Am I Gay?". After that 30 minutes, onward to cartoons, (Hannah-Barbera, AIR).
Think about it. Dawn on Saturday. Where are the parents? Asleep, of course, they haven't a clue that something might "pop into" kiddie cartoons. Where are the kids that pop up and look for cartoons on theTV? Watching their favorites uninterrupted until a "message" pops into the mix.

- Collapse -
I didn't have that scenario in mind, but I did try to keep my daughter from finding out
Mar 4, 2004 5:18AM PST

that there are cartoons on Saturday morning. We didn't turn the TV on, and I made sure the TV was always set on PBS. She still doesn't watch TV on Saturday morning.

- Collapse -
Re: gay children is an oxymoron -- Not just satire, but you misread
Mar 4, 2004 3:21AM PST

Hi, KP.

Given previous charges by over-maginzative right-wingers, it's clear that the parsing of the ambiguous phrase "gay childrens' entertainers" is supposed to be "gay entertainers of children," not "entertainers of gay children." But that's irrelevant, given that the site is a SPOOF!

-- Dave K, Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

- Collapse -
Day off?
Mar 4, 2004 3:33AM PST

.

- Collapse -
Reminds me of an episode of Angel
Mar 4, 2004 3:45AM PST

The first appearance of Wesley Windham-Price, after being fired by the watchers' council:

WESLEY: I'm a rogue demon hunter.
CORDELIA: What's a rogue demon?

- Collapse -
NT- I liked Buffy more.
Mar 4, 2004 3:49AM PST

.