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Credit: Inside the MagicRon DeSantis is facing off against another iconic American franchise: Ripley’s Believe It or Not. It seems that squaring off against the Walt Disney Company, the Florida Democratic Party, and Donald Trump isn’t enough for the governor.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis initially made national headlines with hardline speeches against the forces of “wokeness” (such as LGBTQIA+ education or COVID-19 restrictions), which he eventually parlayed into a run for the 2024 presidency. That campaign collapsed after months of diminishing voter interest (though he already seems gearing up for another run), leaving DeSantis to deal with the myriad opponents he has created.
In a strange turn of events, one of those DeSantis foes turns out to be Ripley’s Believe It or Not, the venerable company specializing in bizarre museum attractions, quirky books, and pretty much every other form of media since 1918. Although the governor probably could not have predicted his quest to restrict LGBTQIA+ awareness in Florida schools would have led to Ripley’s publicly mocking him alongside Disney, that has become the case.
Related: DeSantis Board Paid Law Firms Millions to Fight Disney, Report
These odd circumstances have come about due to the Parental Rights in Education Act (HB 1557), the Ron DeSantis political centerpiece that also triggered a massive, ongoing legal battle between the former presidential candidate and the Walt Disney Company. The Act, which was a hot point in Florida politics in 2023, had multiple effects on state schools but very notably made it extremely easy for parents to demand that any individual book (or, often, multiple) books be removed from libraries.
The Parental Rights in Education Act has been described as a DeSantis “book ban” and has led to Florida’s Escambia County Public Schools currently flagging and removing over 1,600 books, including “eight encyclopedias, five dictionaries, and hundreds of reference books” and notably three Ripley’s Believe It or Not titles.
In response to our books being included in the Escambia County Florida book ban, Ripley’s is offering a free book to all Florida residents now through May 15, 2024. 📚 Join us in celebrating the weird and wonderful – claim yours at https://t.co/BdVya0t0aA pic.twitter.com/GzGutDuQQz
— Ripley's Believe It or Not! (@Ripleys) February 21, 2024
In response, the Ripley’s Believe It or Not book division (part of the event larger Ripley Entertainment, Inc.) is sending free books to Florida residents. The company has released a statement regarding Escambia County, saying:
[T]he pen is mightier than the sword, and Ripley’s has decided to gift a complimentary copy of their annual book to Florida residents, free of charge. Now through May 15, 2024, Florida residents can request a book be mailed to them at www.ripleys.com/general/floridabooks, or – even better – get one right away, in person at a Florida Ripley’s Believe It or Not! attraction in Panama City Beach, Orlando, and St. Augustine Florida with a Florida ID while supplies last.
Related: Disney World Steals Multi-Billion Dollar Win From Ron DeSantis, Expansions on the Way
Ripley Entertainment Vice President of Attraction Operations Ryan DeSear said, “The very idea of banning these books is worthy of entry to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Ironically, Escambia County officials are practically authoring our next book for us. While Ripley’s response to this issue is a bit tongue-in-cheek, we very much encourage all Florida residents to claim their free copy and decide for themselves.”
While Ripley’s has not yet gone so far as to file a First Amendment lawsuit against Governor DeSantis, it is unmistakable that another popular Florida attraction is coming out against him and his political actions. We’ll just have to see whether this has the same impact, or whether a lot of children just get a new book to read.
What’s your favorite Ripley’s Believe It or Not book? Name it in the comments below!