‘Next Subject’: Disney CEO Bob Iger Tries To Shut Down CNBC Interviewer Asking About Elon Musk Attacking Him

Jennifer Bowers BahneyApr 4th, 2024, 12:33 pm
 

Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger tried to shut down persistent questioning about his reaction to Elon Musk’s support for billionaire Nelson Peltz’s efforts to get on Disney’s board of directors.

Iger spoke with CNBC’s David Faber Thursday morning after Peltz failed to earn enough votes during the shareholders’ meeting on Wednesday night. Peltz heads investment firm Trian Partners, which owns $3 billion in Disney stock. Peltz argued that Disney’s board needed a shakeup due to “stock underperformance” and a “botched” succession plan.

Disney shareholders have been wary of Musk potentially becoming involved with the company, due to his chaotic management style.

After discussing Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and the state’s past “hostilities” against Disney, Faber said, “You know, speaking of hostilities, I mean, I know you are aware of Elon Musk and what he’s been, continues to say or at least post on his X platform. How do you approach that? You know, somebody who’s got such a big microphone as Musk kind of coming after you all the time.”

IGER: I ignore it.

FABER: You do?

IGER: Yeah. Just there’s no, there’s no relevance to the Walt Disney Company or to me.

FABER: So, when he says I would, you know, buy shares if Peltz was on the board and —

IGER: Next subject.

FABER: He comes after you as being because he’s on his anti-woke campaign.

IGER: People have been coming after me and the company for years. And it’s just — I don’t get distracted by those things.

FABER: But the woke thing has had more of an impact. I mean, you’ve said to me that you would love to be just out of the culture wars. Do you feel like you’re succeeding in that?

IGER: Well, I think yes, I mean, I think the noise has sort of quieted down. I’ve been preaching this for a long time at the company before I left and since I came back that our number one goal is to entertain. I think, but the term “woke” is thrown around rather liberally. No, no pun intended in that regard. I think a lot of people don’t even understand really what it means.

The bottom line is that infusing messaging as a sort of a number one priority in our films and TV shows is not what we’re up to. They need to be entertaining. And look, we’re the Disney company can have a positive impact on the world whether it’s, you know, fostering acceptance and understanding of you know, people of all different types, great. But, generally speaking, we need to be entertainment, an entertainment first company and I’ve worked really hard to do that.

Musk tweeted his support for Peltz before Wednesday’s vote.

Watch the clip above via CNBC.

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