Yes they are. And Iger's making a lot of the same mistakes that Eisner did before his forced departure from Disney.
This is exactly the problem. He joined and then left before they could even meet. This polarizes Disney's potential audience, making the company and brand LESS valuable, overall. That's a big part of the CEO's job of a company--protect the brand and the strategy of a company. He just showed the public that he has no strategy.
Okay, let's suppose you're right. Should all protesters protesting Trump go home because they're not being listened to also? Why would they waste their time protesting?
My point is, regardless of Trump's opinion, if he's listening, or whatever--this looks incredibly stupid and indecisive of Iger. He would have been better off not getting involved in the first place. And when he did, there's no way he should have quit as a protest for something politically motivated.
Right, but most of Disney's profits and revenue are tied directly to the United States. This kind of controversy is not a risk worth taking.
If Iger had remained neutral and didn't do anything, no further consequences would have happened. He should actively try not to be political and polarizing. Again, this alienates half of the potential audience in the US!
Now, people WILL be outraged and some people will buy different products / go different places for vacation / not consider Disney in the same light. There's no positive upside for Disney to any of Iger's actions.
No one is going to call up their
travel agent and say, "Wow! Iger just quit Trump's advisory committee! Just because he did that, I'm brining my family to
Disneyland!" People WILL have the opposite reaction, though.
I saw your response to my post as well.
I'm not discussing politics, whatsoever. I have made no pro- or anti- Trump statement.
I'm discussing the incredible mis-management of the Walt Disney Company right now, as reflected in the news. Here we have a CEO who literally joined the council (and caught negative press for it) and then left it without attending it (and got more negative press for it). This was incredibly stupid and short sighted of Iger. What he did was just polarize half of the US with respect to Disney. Disney IS a brand. Probably, one of the most important, enduring American brands. And, to that note...
Walt wouldn't be proud of Iger for these (and other) incredibly indecisive and devise moves from a corporate management perspective. Rather, Walt Disney (and especially Roy) would have had VERY little patience for this kind of stuff. Iger's received bi-partisan criticism for quite a while, again, as he's been falling into traps that previous corporate managers of Disney fell into.
Further, Walt would likely be offended by you saying that you're prouder to be a Disney fan than an American. He'd tell you that without America, even with its many flaws, there is no Disney. Not in California, not in Florida, and not anywhere abroad.
If you need proof of this, note the fact that Disney's first animatronic human character was Abraham Lincoln from "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln." Patriotism was an important thing to Walt Disney.
Edit: Added "Human" Character to Abe, and grammar / etc.