During yesterday’s Walt Disney Company earnings call, CEO Bob Chapek was asked about the firing of Gina Carano and if Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy was being replaced.
On Carano….
Asked by a caller during the Q&A portion if Disney had a “black list,” insinuating Carano, by name, was targeted for her conservative politics, Chapek responded that he does not see Disney as “left-leaning or right-leaning” and that Disney stands “for values that are universal: Values of respect, values of decency, values of integrity and values of inclusion. And we seek to have the content that we make reflective of the rich diversity of the world we live in. And I think that’s a world we should all live in harmony and peace.”
On the subject of replacing Kennedy….
Asked at an investor’s conference call whether Kennedy was being replaced, Bob Chapek flatly dismissed the rumours, stating “we’ve been absolutely thrilled that we can have the kind of talent like Kathy Kennedy to direct Lucasfilm… We look forward to having Kathleen Kennedy running the Lucasfilm organisation for many years to come.”
It is good to see Chapek offering support for Kennedy at what must be a difficult time following the departure of Carano, and the changes that seem to have elicited with books being cancelled and scripts having to be hastily re-written.
