Disney cuts diversity, equity, and inclusion programs ‘Reimagine Tomorrow’ and ‘The Disney Look’ following criticism: SEC filing
Disney made headlines recently with its decision to discontinue two of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs as outlined in its 2024 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Investors have been pushing Disney to further streamline its DEI efforts, prompting the company’s move.
One of the programs that Disney dropped is “Reimagine Tomorrow,” which was prominently featured in the DEI section of the company’s 2023 10-K SEC report, but conspicuously absent from the 2024 filing. Despite this absence, Disney maintains a dedication to DEI objectives focused on creating teams that mirror the life experiences of their audiences.
Moreover, Disney also removed “The Disney Look” from its SEC filing. This program previously included appearance guidelines within the DEI section of the documentation. Disney stated that the guidelines were revised to foster an inclusive environment that embraces and celebrates the genuine expressions of belonging among its employees.
The “Reimagine Tomorrow” initiative, as described on its webpage, emphasizes amplifying underrepresented voices, sharing untold stories, and advocating for accurate representation in media and entertainment. Notably, the program’s webpage in 2021 provided a breakdown of various racial and gender groups within Disney’s workforce, as per reports from news outlets.
This DEI program gained attention on a national level after a controversial incident when a Disney executive discussed her “not at all secret gay agenda” during an internal event. A leaked video of the executive sparked significant backlash against Disney, which led to a reevaluation of its DEI strategies.
Stefan Padfield, director of the Free Enterprise Project at the National Center for Public Policy Research, highlighted that Disney’s removal of “Reimagine Tomorrow” from its DEI section could suggest a potential shift in its DEI investments or even an attempt to obscure them. This decision might indicate Disney’s anticipation of more legal challenges or simply reflect evolving corporate priorities.
Disney’s decision to scale back its DEI initiatives aligns with similar moves by other Fortune 500 companies like Amazon, Meta, and Walmart, which have also revised or halted their DEI practices in recent months. This trend underscores a broader shift in corporate approaches to DEI and poses challenges for how major companies navigate these issues moving forward.
