Disney sues Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over control of self-governing district

FILE - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to a crowd at Adventure Outdoors gun store, Thursday, March 30, 2023, in Smyrna, Ga. DeSantis won a commanding 20-point reelection last year, even carrying the longtime Democratic stronghold of Miami-Dade County. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File) (John Bazemore, Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The Walt Disney Company on Wednesday filed a lawsuit in federal court against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials alleging a “targeted campaign of government retaliation,” according to a statement from the entertainment giant.

Disney and DeSantis have been embroiled in a feud over Disney World’s self-governing privileges in the Orlando area, which the governor and possible GOP presidential contender has threatened to revoke.

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The conflict started when Disney, under former CEO Bob Chapek, criticized the Florida government for a state education law opponents have dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. DeSantis signed the bill into law in March 2022.

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