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Credit: D23On Tuesday, the newly minted CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Josh D’Amaro, officially confirmed previously reported layoffs affecting roughly 1,000 cast members. According to an internal memo released to the public, some employees have already been notified that their positions have been eliminated.
1,000 Layoffs at The Walt Disney Company
The layoffs mainly affect various marketing departments, which D’Amaro claims is part of an effort to continue delivering an on-brand experience for fans while keeping up with trends and technological advancements. Several open positions have also been eliminated, removing more roles from the company without having to let go of more employees.
On Tuesday, reporter Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) shared the full text of D’Amaro’s company-wide email to cast members on X (formerly known as Twitter).
In a company memo, Josh D’Amaro says Disney will be “eliminating roles in some parts of the company” and has begun notifying affected employees. About 1,000 roles are reportedly impacted, largely tied to a realignment of the company’s marketing operations.
In a company memo, Josh D'Amaro says Disney will be “eliminating roles in some parts of the company” and has begun notifying affected employees. About 1,000 roles are reportedly impacted, largely tied to a realignment of the company’s marketing operations. pic.twitter.com/FGecveKW9k
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) April 14, 2026
The letter reads:
“Dear Fellow Employees & Cast Members,
We have experienced a great deal of change these last few years, both at the company and across our industries. Knowing firsthand how these moments can bring uncertainty, I want to be open about some difficult news that will be communicated this week.
In January, we announced our unified enterprise marketing and brand organization, designed to serve consumers in an even more connected way. Over the past several months, we have looked at ways in which we can streamline our operations in various parts of the company to ensure we deliver the world-class creativity and innovation our fans value and expect from Disney. Given the fast-moving pace of our industries, this requires us to constantly assess how to foster a more agile and technologically-enabled workforce to meet tomorrow’s needs. As a result, we will be eliminating roles in some parts of the company and have begun notifying impacted employees.
I know this is hard. Those that will be leaving us have done meaningful work here and care deeply about this company. These decisions are not a reflection of their contributions, or of the overall strength of the company. Rather, they reflect our continual evaluation of how to more effectively manage our resources and reinvest in our businesses.
Compassion and respect remain at the heart of our company. As we move forward through this transition, our priority is to support those impacted and help each person navigate what comes next with resources, guidance, and direct support.
Despite these difficult decisions, I remain optimistic about where we’re headed as a company. I’m deeply grateful for all of your contributions and for the dedication, professionalism, and care you bring to your work each day. Even in challenging moments, you continue to demonstrate what makes Disney so special.
Josh”
Josh D’Amaro’s First Few Weeks in Office
Josh D’Amaro officially took over for former Disney CEO Bob Iger on March 18, though Iger will remain with the company in an advisory role through the end of fiscal 2026. It’s been a chaotic first few weeks for the new Chief Executive Officer, culminating in this massive workforce reduction.
Within days of his promotion, rumors swirled that D’Amaro had forced Imagineers to remagine plans for the Disney Villains land currently in development at Magic Kingdom Park, allegedly telling them to “think bigger.” However, Walt Disney World Resort hasn’t confirmed any changes to its plan for the area planned for “beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.”
What do you think about Josh D’Amaro’s statement on the upcoming layoffs at Disney? Inside the Magic would love to hear from you in the comments!