February 6th, 2024 – 4:04 PM
Elon Musk announced on Tuesday his intention to cover the legal fees of Disney employees who feel they have been subjected to discrimination through the company’s diversity and inclusion policies. He condemned these standards as “mandatory, institutionalized racism and sexism.”
The billionaire made this offer to those who believe they have faced discrimination at Disney or its affiliated companies such as ABC, ESPN, and Marvel. He shared a graphic illustrating Disney’s internal inclusion guidelines, which he claimed was anonymously provided to him, although it has been publicly available since being featured in The Hollywood Reporter in 2020, as noted by editor Kim Masters.
After posting the graphic, Musk urged individuals who have experienced discrimination to respond to his message and receive legal assistance. This move follows his recent funding of a lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm by Gina Carano, a former star of “The Mandalorian” who was dismissed in 2021 for making controversial social media posts. Musk’s support for Carano is part of his initiative to cover legal expenses for individuals who have faced discrimination on his platform.
Joe Benarroch, X’s head of business operations, expressed the company’s dedication to free speech by financially backing Carano’s lawsuit. Musk initially announced his commitment to covering legal fees for individuals who faced unfair treatment due to their online activities on his platform in August 2023. His current focus on Disney’s DEI policies aligns with this ongoing effort.
Disney has not responded to Musk’s statements regarding their policies. The tech mogul continues to advocate for free speech and fair treatment of individuals in the workplace.
