Disney Is Making Changes To Its DEI efforts: Here’s What’s Changing

Disney is adjusting its approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, placing more emphasis on business outcomes, according to an internal memo sent to employees this week. These updates reflect the pressure that companies like Disney are facing as they navigate evolving expectations in today’s business environment.

In the memo, Disney’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Sonia Coleman, outlined several key changes to the company’s DEI efforts:

1. Performance Factors: Starting this fiscal year, Disney is replacing the “Diversity & Inclusion” performance factor, which had been used to assess executive compensation, with a new “Talent Strategy” factor. This new strategy will still take elements from the old DEI focus, but it will place greater importance on how values contribute to business success.
2. Rebranding DEI Efforts: Disney is getting rid of its controversial “Reimagine Tomorrow” initiative and its related website, which showcased talent and stories from underrepresented communities. The company faced criticism from some conservative groups over this program. In response, Disney launched a new, more corporate-focused DEI hub on its corporate website in December, and updated its internal website as well.
3. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): Disney is also rebranding its “Business” Employee Resource Groups (BERGs) to “Belonging” Employee Resource Groups. This change is meant to emphasize the company’s commitment to strengthening the employee community and improving the workplace experience.

Alongside these internal shifts, Disney is also updating its content advisory system. The company had previously released warnings before some older films, such as “Dumbo” and “Peter Pan,” that featured content with negative depictions or mistreatment of certain groups.

Now, instead of showing these content advisories automatically before the films, Disney will be placing a shorter advisory in the details section of these films on Disney+. The new advisory will read: “This program is presented as originally created and may contain stereotypes or negative depictions.”

This move is a significant departure from the previous, more detailed warnings. It reflects Disney’s decision to reduce the visibility of these disclaimers while still acknowledging that some content may not meet today’s standards.

At the company’s 2023 annual shareholders meeting, Iger emphasized that Disney’s primary goal should be to entertain people, with a focus on creating positive impacts rather than pushing a political agenda. “Our primary mission needs to be to entertain, and then through our entertainment to continue to have a positive impact on the world,” Iger said. “It should not be agenda-driven, it should be entertainment-driven.”

So far, Iger’s approach appears to be working. Disney’s reputation among conservative audiences has improved, and the company’s entertainment efforts continue to succeed. In 2024, Disney was the top North American box office distributor, thanks in part to the success of family-friendly films like Inside Out 2 and Moana 2.

These changes signal that Disney is working to balance its core mission of entertainment with the pressures of navigating an increasingly complex political landscape. The updated DEI programs and content changes are part of a broader effort to adapt to the times while still staying true to its foundational values.

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