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Credit: Inside the MagicAmidst a quiet overhaul of its website, The Walt Disney Company is erasing one of the most controversial executives in its history from its official corporate timeline. Bob Chapek, who served as CEO from 2020 to 2022 before being ousted and suddenly replaced by his predecessor, Bob Iger, is slowly disappearing from the Mouse’s story.
Bob Chapek: A Failed Disney CEO
Bob Chapek joined The Walt Disney Company back in 1993, starting in the Home Entertainment division. He was extremely successful in managing VHS (remember those?) and DVD distribution and coined the “Disney Vault” strategy, which helped drive demand for physical copies of films.
However, he was also a huge proponent of the straight-to-video sequels, which many Walt Disney Animation Studios fans view as lower-quality additions to their favorite film universes.
Chapek served as Chairman of Walt Disney Studios Distribution from 2006 to 2009, when he was appointed Chairman of Disney Consumer Products. There, he helped expand Disney’s global licensing business, extracting substantial monetary value from popular intellectual properties and franchises.
After Frozen (2013) proved to be an unexpected smash hit, Chapek was responsible for licensing the property to merchandisers worldwide. He might as well have been printing money for Disney.
In 2015, Chapek stepped into the role now occupied by Josh D’Amaro (under a different name): Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products. He oversaw the construction of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
He was known to push for IP-driven experiences that could maximize value from Disney’s portfolio, and also pushed for more premium theme park experiences that would up the average spend per guest.
Chapek was dealt a tough hand when he replaced long-standing Disney CEO Bob Iger in 2020. He stepped into the executive role weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down much of the world, including film and television production, as well as all of the Disney theme parks.
While Chapek did keep The Walt Disney Company afloat during such an unprecedented time, his actions over the next two years left Disney fans (and insiders) fuming.
When Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort reopened amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Chapek became the face of price increases at the theme parks.
Fans blamed him for the implementation of Disney Genie+ (the paid FastPass service that predated Lightning Lane), the end of complimentary airport transportation via Disney’s Magical Express, the removal of free Disney Resort hotel parking (which Iger reinstated after he returned), and more.
Chapek sparked a political firestorm when he spoke out against the Parental Rights in Education Act (known best as the “Don’t Say Gay” law) in Florida. Despite a warning from Governor Ron DeSantis not to denounce the legislation, Chapek was outspoken about his support for the LGBTQIA+ community, including Walt Disney World Resort guests and cast members.
In response, DeSantis passed a bill that eliminated the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a municipal area that Walt Disney World Resort had controlled since 1967. Disney later attempted to sue the Florida government for allegedly discriminating against its First Amendment-protected right to free speech, but a judge dismissed the case.
Chapek is credited with the rollout of Disney+. Still, he also implemented a quantity-over-quality content strategy that left many fans frustrated with the lower-quality outputs from their favorite franchises. Iger later cut studio spending, eliminating plans for several exclusive series and movie releases across Marvel, Star Wars, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, and other properties.
In November 2022, Chapek’s time as CEO abruptly ended. Overnight, Bob Iger returned to his position as the top executive and has served in that role ever since. The pair reportedly feuded during Chapek’s tenure at the head office, and Iger has publicly denounced many of Disney’s strategies during his two-year term.
Disney Erases Controversial History
Recently, The Walt Disney Company removed a long-standing page from its website, which listed the company’s accomplishments and significant transitions from 1923 through the present day. The historic timeline progressed year by year, detailing how one of the world’s most popular media corporations evolved into what it is today.
That page, which inevitably contained several references to Bob Chapek during his time as CEO, can no longer be found. If a visitor tries to type the exact web address of the historic timeline, the website displays an error message.
The Walt Disney Company hasn’t issued a statement about this change or indicated whether the timeline will be reinstated, altered, or remain a missing piece of the website’s history.
What did you think of Bob Chapek during his time at The Walt Disney Company? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments!