The Walt Disney Company has issued an updated statement in regards to invasion of the Ukraine by Russia.
A week after Disney announced it was pausing all upcoming theatrical releases in Russia, starting with today’s release of Pixar’s “Turning Red,” the company now says that is “taking steps to pause all other businesses in Russia”
The new statement says Disney content and product licensing, its cruise line activities, National Geographic magazine and tours, local content productions, and linear channels will be impacted by this across the board pause in the company’s business in Russia.
Disney was the first of the major Hollywood studios to halt its theatrical releases in Russia after the invasion. The others studios followed Disney’s lead.
Disney is also one of many major worldwide companies ceasing all business with Russia recently, including Disney’s frequent partners McDonald’s and Coca-Cola.
Here is the full statement issued late yesterday:
“Last week, after Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, we announced that we were pausing the release of theatrical films in Russia and reviewing the rest of our businesses there.
Given the unrelenting assault on Ukraine and the escalating humanitarian crisis, we are taking steps to pause all other businesses in Russia. This includes content and product licensing, Disney Cruise Line activities, National Geographic magazine and tours, local content productions and linear channels.
Some of those business activities we can and will pause immediately. Others—such as linear channels and some content and product licensing—will take time given contractual complexities.
Even as we pause these businesses, we remain committed to our dedicated colleagues in Russia, who will remain employed. And we continue to work with our NGO partners to provide urgent aid and other much-needed assistance to refugees.”
It’s been a busy week for The Walt Disney Company, which also held its 2022 annual shareholders meeting on Wednesday, March 9, which was followed by rebuttals to Disney CEO Bob Chapek in regards to Florida House Bill 1557 (aka the Don’t Say Gay bill).