Dana Walden is viewed by many as the presumptive next-CEO for The Walt Disney Company once Bob Iger transitions to his next phase of career with the House of Mouse (again). However, Walden is not free from significant controversy. A former executive at Disney has reached out to That Park Place and brought our attention to past statements from Mrs. Walden that could be viewed as extremely scandalous.
Dana Walden via Variety YouTube
For example:
“Organizations like this are just critical. I wish there were more of them when I was growing up in the industry for women to support each other and to mentor each other. Ultimately, if I leave this industry and there is not a woman right behind me ready to take my job, I will not consider myself to have been successful, and organizations like you are going to ensure that that happens.”
— Dana Walden, THR
Dana Walden via Variety YouTube
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One can easily imagine that a male executive claiming he’ll be a failure if another man isn’t the one who succeeds him would be roundly (and rightly condemned). However, Mrs. Walden seems to subscribe to the idea that the employee who would replace her as head of Disney Television when she leaves must be of a particular biological sex and/or gender. That also seems to fly in the face of Supreme Court rulings, as well as regulations enforced by the EEOC.
Walden is also facing blowback for what some consider to be significant whistleblower affidavit which purports that ABC News, a division within Dana Walden’s control, was engaged in inappropriate coordination for the debate which took place last week between the major American candidates for the White House.
Disney’s Dana Walden responds to claims that the presidential debate was biased due to her friendship with Kamala Harris:
“I don’t want to dignify it with much of a response. … [ABC News] is the most professional organization [with] the most top-notch journalists.” pic.twitter.com/MQAOf4Viqg
— Variety (@Variety) September 15, 2024
Walden’s refusal to outright deny the allegation is troubling, especially given the scale to which this impacts society. It’s so serious that a long-time advisor and consultant to the Clintons has said her departments should be investigated thoroughly for what could be a very real scandal.
“ABC undermined the system for everyone.” Mark Penn Op Ed for WSJ pic.twitter.com/u0EA7xUmTe
— Cheryl Kane (@cherylkanere) September 12, 2024
While the other side of the political spectrum is defending Walden, ABC, and attempting to castigate complaints as simply part of the partisan extreme, the now-released whistleblower statement, as well as promise of forthcoming secret audio recordings, could seriously undermine Walden and her operations. For The Disney Company, this not only damages their news credibility with moderates and conservatives, but it also might impact the selection of the next CEO.
BREAKING.🚨
ABC News whistleblower swears under penalty of perjury that the Kamala Harris campaign dictated the terms of the questions during the presidential debate.
Furthermore, the Harris campaign insisted upon live “fact checking” of Donald Trump during the debate.
ABC… pic.twitter.com/vRvaOdgUln
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) September 15, 2024
Untrue reports that the whistleblower died in a car accident may muddy the waters for a bit, but even the mainstream media will struggle to ignore these reports if secret audio is released. The purchase of X by Elon Musk has made it so that such information is exceedingly difficult for organizations to censor and suppress in 2024. At least for the present, transparency does often get a foothold at the oligarchy’s least favorite social media platform.
A recent tell-all exclusive at The New York Times revealed that Dana Walden had acted as a quasi-liaison between those wanting to oust Bob Chapek at Disney and Bob Iger. It was, reportedly, a messaging system for ousting a CEO and returning the old one. And it seems to have been orchestrated in an effort to prevent Disney from moving to the sensible center — away from politics and out of controversy. For Dana Walden, it may now be time to pay her back and give her the coveted CEO position once Bob Iger leaves. But much as Disney has struggled with politics and controversy as a result of being directly in them… so too, Dana Walden, now faces incredible inquiry as to her actions. For someone who was largely unknown to the general public a few days ago, that’s quite the negative accomplishment.
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