Logo

Disney Calls Off Its War With the L.A. Times

Nov 7, 2017  •  Post A Comment

After The Walt Disney Co. came under widespread criticism for its ban on the Los Angeles Times from Disney screenings, the company reversed itself today and essentially declared that its feud with the Times is over.

As we reported last week, the bone of contention was a story about Disneyland that Disney viewed as negative and unfair. Disney began excluding Times reporters and critics from screenings of Disney films, bringing an outcry and a show of support for the newspaper by other press outlets and critics’ groups.

After issuing a statement last week lashing out at the L.A. Times — you can read it by clicking here — Disney issued a new statement today saying: “We’ve had productive discussions with the newly installed leadership at The Los Angeles Times regarding our specific concerns, and as a result, we’ve agreed to restore access to advance screenings for their film critics.”

The New York Times reports: “Disney’s change of course came after a number of news outlets, including The New York Times and the A.V. Club, said they were boycotting advance screenings of Disney films in solidarity.

“The company also faced pressure from several high-profile Hollywood figures, including Ava DuVernay, who directed ‘A Wrinkle in Time,’ which is scheduled to be released by Disney on March 9.”

DuVernay posted a message Monday on Twitter saying: “Saluting the film journalists standing up for one another. Standing with you.”

Among those responding negatively to Disney’s ban on the L.A. Times were the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics Circle, Boston Society of Film Critics and National Society of Film Critics, who released a joint statement denouncing Disney’s blackout of the paper. You can see the full statement below …

One Comment

  1. The Mouse that Roared at Disney got squashed by the “Who’s Who of Print News” …

    Congrats to the hard working journalists …

Your Comment

Email (will not be published)