As the Trump administration campaigns against diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the media and entertainment sector, FCC chair Brendan Carr has urged the agency’s enforcement arm to open an investigation into Disney and ABC.
Carr, in a letter to Disney chief executive Bob Iger released on Friday, said the probe will concern whether Disney maintained discriminatory policies through racial quotas, among other things.
The move follows Disney earlier this year rolling back some of its DEI efforts in a bid to ensure that it doesn’t wind up in the crosshairs of the government. This included scrubbing references to the “Reimagine Tomorrow” initiative, which launched in 2021 with the purpose of amplifying underrepresented voices, and employee development programs and fellowships for underrepresented talent.
“Although your company recently made some changes to how it brands certain efforts, it is not clear that the underlying policies have changed in a fundamental manner — nor that past practices complied with relevant FCC regulations,” Carr wrote.
In a statement, a Disney spokesperson said, “We are reviewing the Federal Communications Commission’s letter, and we look forward to engaging with the commission to answer its questions.”
More to come.
