Walt Disney Co has sued Republican Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, accusing the politician and his oversight board of attempting to control Disney World's theme parks. The entertainment firm has stated that the state of Florida has violated its First Amendment rights to free speech by attempting to "weaponize government power against Disney." The battle began when the company criticised a state law banning classroom discussion of gender identity in schools. Incensed by the criticism, DeSantis’s focal point turned to Disney by targeting the theme park suppliers.

Sueing the governor and the board and seeking to bar the board’s invalidation of an agreement struck between Disney and the prior board, the lawsuit claims that DeSantis’ retribution "now threatens Disney's business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights."

The scuffle between Disney and DeSantis has put the theme park supplier at the center of a conflagrating debate for Americans' free speech rights in the United States. It has also tested the relations between the state government and the long-established entertainment provider. The firm is one of the state's leading employers, responsible for roughly 75,000 jobs in the region.