Disney controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
Back to profile19 entries
2026
Raquel Lee sues Disney over alleged sexual abuse during 'The Poof Point' production
Lawsuit filed
Former Disney child star Raquel Lee Bolleau filed a lawsuit against Disney alleging she was raped and sexually assaulted by an adult employee at age 14 during the 2001 filming of 'The Poof Point' in Utah, and that Disney failed to protect her and failed to properly hire and supervise its employees. She seeks unspecified damages for negligence.
Company response
Denial — Disney
The company responded similarly to Tuesday’s lawsuit, according to the Sentinel, vowing to fight the suit and calling it “meritless.”
Source excerpt
In a new lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Raquel claims Disney failed to protect her -- and instead repeatedly put her in close contact with the man she says abused her.
She's suing Disney for negligence, claiming the company failed to properly hire and supervise its employees ... and she wants unspecified damages.
Former Disney child star Raquel Lee Bolleau says landing a role in "The Poof Point" turned into a nightmare ... claiming she was raped and sexually assaulted by an adult employee when she was just 14.
2026
ABC and Disney sue FCC over early broadcast license review
Lawsuit filed
ABC, its parent company Disney and eight affected local stations sued the Federal Communications Commission on First Amendment grounds, asking a federal court to stop the FCC's early renewal proceedings for eight ABC-owned broadcast licenses. The lawsuit alleges the FCC's review, ordered in April under Chairman Brendan Carr, is retaliation for ABC's speech and poses an existential threat to its operations.
Stated objective. To immediately enjoin Defendants from taking or threatening to take any action against Plaintiffs in relation to the early license renewal applications.
Source excerpt
Disney and its ABC unit have sued the Federal Communications Commission to stop an early review of licenses for eight...
It then outlined how the FCC could use the adjudication as a weapon to prolong an investigation to cost ABC and its parent company, Disney, money or to outright “deny license renewal or immediately revoke the Stations’ licenses,” which would take ABC off the air entirely.
On Tuesday (August 18), ABC filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) in federal court, claiming that regulatory actions and an investigation was part of the Trump administration’s agenda to restrict its free speech.
2022
Disney responds to criticism of Snow White remake characters
Company response
After actor Peter Dinklage criticized the planned portrayal of dwarfs in the Snow White remake, Disney said it would depict the seven characters differently from the original animated film to avoid reinforcing stereotypes and had been consulting dwarf groups.
Stated objective. Avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film.
Company response
Clarification — 迪士尼
为了避免对原版动画电影中刻板印象的加深，我们将对故事中七个小矮人的角色进行一些不同的刻画。为此，我们也一直在咨询侏儒团体。
Source excerpt
为了避免对原版动画电影中刻板印象的加深，我们将对故事中七个小矮人的角色进行一些不同的刻画。为此，我们也一直在咨询侏儒团体。
继“白雪公主不够白”后，迪士尼即将出品的真人版电影《白雪公主》又陷入“小矮人”角色争议——《权力的游戏》中的“小恶魔”、艾美奖获得者彼特·丁拉基批评该片对侏儒的刻画是“该死的退步”。
2021
Disney files lawsuits to retain rights to Marvel characters
Lawsuit filed
In a controversy noted in 2021, Disney filed lawsuits seeking to retain full control of rights to several Marvel characters, including Iron Man, Thor, Spider-Man and Black Widow. According to the source report, the dispute involved the characters' creators and their heirs. The filing concerned the scope of Disney's rights to these characters, with the company pursuing legal action to keep full control. No further details on parties, amounts, or outcomes were provided in the source material.
Stated objective. retain full control of the characters
Company response
Denial — Disney
A Disney spokesperson said there was “no merit whatsoever to” Johansson’s filing.
Clarification — Disney
Disney has fully complied with Ms. Johansson’s contract
Clarification — Disney
While Disney’s representatives called the lawsuit “sad and depressing”
Source excerpt
Disney, owner of Marvel Entertainment, has filed lawsuits in a bid to retain full control of the characters, the
The suit alleges that “Disney intentionally induced Marvel’s breach of the agreement, without justification, in order to prevent Ms. Johansson from realizing the full benefit of her bargain with Marvel."
Scarlett Johansson, well-known for her Marvel role as Natasha Romanov AKA Black Widow, is suing Disney-owned Marvel Studios.
2021
Vermont family files lawsuit against Disney
Lawsuit filed
A Vermont family sued Disney for $20 million, alleging that their toddler was sexually assaulted while in the care of a Disney Cruise Line daycare and that Disney was at fault for understaffing the daycare. Disney called the allegations unfounded and said local authorities had investigated them.
Company response
Denial — Disney Cruise Line
“The plaintiffs’ first allegations were reported to the FBI, and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office investigated them and determined them to be unfounded,” said Disney Cruise Line spokesperson Cynthia Martinez in a statement.
Source excerpt
A Vermont family is suing Disney for $20 million, saying their child was sexually assaulted while in the care of a Disney Cruise Line daycare.
The anonymous couple claim that their toddler was assaulted aboard the Disney Fantasy during a January 2020 cruise in a lawsuit filed on September 22.
“The plaintiffs’ first allegations were reported to the FBI, and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office investigated them and determined them to be unfounded,” said Disney Cruise Line spokesperson Cynthia Martinez in a statement.
2021
Disneyland Snow White attraction draws backlash over its finale
Public backlash
Disneyland’s updated Snow White attraction drew backlash over a finale in which the Prince kisses Snow White while she is asleep and without her consent, according to a review quoted in the article.
Source excerpt
The updated Snow White attraction at Disneyland is receiving backlash just days after the park opened for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
“A kiss he gives to her without her consent, while she’s asleep, which cannot possibly be true love if only one person knows it’s happening.”
Disneyland’s revamped Snow White ride is facing backlash over Snow White and Prince Charming’s kiss while she’s asleep.
2021
Disney+ customers share cancellation confirmations amid backlash over Gina Carano’s firing
Public backlash
Following Lucasfilm’s decision to drop Gina Carano, Disney+ customers shared screenshots of cancellation confirmations and used the hashtags #FireDisneyPlus and #CancelDisneyPlus as part of the backlash.
Source excerpt
The other stripe of the backlash consisted of Disney+ customers sharing screenshots of cancellation confirmations, along with the hashtag #FireDisneyPlus and #CancelDisneyPlus.
As of this writing, it is still live.
2020
Game Plan sues over slogan
Lawsuit filed
Game Plan Inc filed a lawsuit against Uninterrupted, Nike, Disney, and Two-Take Interactive Software Inc., claiming that LeBron James and Uninterrupted took its "I am more than an athlete" slogan. Uninterrupted called the lawsuit "meritless."
Company response
Denial — Uninterrupted
Uninterrupted has slammed the lawsuit as 'meritless'.
Source excerpt
Maryland non-profit Game Plan Inc filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against LeBron James' Uninterrupted media company. They claim James stole their 'I am more than an athlete' slogan. They also sued Nike Disney, and Two-Take Interactive Software Inc.
Uninterrupted has slammed the lawsuit as 'meritless'.
2020
Disney waives school screening fee and apologizes
Company response
The Walt Disney Company stated it would not pursue a $250 licensing fee that had been demanded after Emerson Elementary screened The Lion King. CEO Robert Iger apologized to the school's PTA and said he would personally donate to the school's fundraising initiative. The incident, reported on February 6, 2020, centered on the licensing fee request following the school's screening of the film.
The Walt Disney Company said it would not pursue a $250 licensing fee demanded after Emerson Elementary screened The Lion King, and CEO Robert Iger apologized to the PTA. Iger also said he would personally donate to the school's fundraising initiative.
Company response
Apology — The Walt Disney Company
On Thursday morning, Disney’s Chairman and CEO Robert Iger said on Twitter that the company apologizes to the PTA.
Remediation — The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company has not only waived a $250 fee it previously demanded for a Lion King screening at Emerson Elementary
Source excerpt
The Walt Disney Company has not only waived a $250 fee it previously demanded for a Lion King screening at Emerson Elementary, but the conglomerate’s CEO has pledged to personally donate to the Berkeley school.
On Thursday morning, Disney’s Chairman and CEO Robert Iger said on Twitter that the company apologizes to the PTA.
“Disney has instructed us to not pursue the fee for this situation,” she said.
2020
Court order resolves Disney lawsuit against DisGear retailer
Ruling
Disney won a civil federal lawsuit against online retailer Mouseprint Media, also known as DisGear, after suing it over copyright and trademark infringement involving images used on merchandise. A March 24 court order outlined steps Mouseprint Media agreed to take, including relinquishing merchandise and its website to Disney's control and permanently stopping sales and distribution.
Company response
Remediation — Mouseprint Media
The store agreed to permanently stop selling and distributing its merchandise.
Source excerpt
The store agreed to permanently stop selling and distributing its merchandise.
The March 24 court order signed by U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton Jr. did not mention any dollar settlements but outlined several steps that Mouseprint Media agreed to in order to essentially shut down its business, including relinquishing merchandise and its website to Disney’s control.
Disney won a civil federal lawsuit this month after it sued a Winter Garden online retailer last year for copyright and trademark infringement for using images from “Star Wars” and “Frozen” to Mickey Mouse on its shirts.
2020
Disney sues over Florida property tax assessments
Lawsuit filed
Disney filed 12 lawsuits against Orange County Property Appraiser Rich Singh, alleging that the county's tax assessments of its Orlando-area properties were too high and that the appraiser's office did not follow professionally accepted appraisal practices. Singh's spokesperson said the appraisals were correct.
Source excerpt
The company filed 12 lawsuits this week against Singh, claiming the county’s tax assessment of its Orlando-area properties, including Disney World, were too high.
Disney didn’t provide an alternate assessment figure in the suits, but called the assessment from Singh’s office “excessive,” and accused him of “not following professionally accepted appraisal practices.”
Beth Watson, a spokesperson for Singh, said that the appraisals were correct and that Disney’s properties “had been undervalued for decades by previous property appraisers.”
2020
Disney residual-interest settlement with WGA West
Settlement
In June 2020, the Writers Guild of America West reached a $5.25 million settlement with Disney concerning interest owed on late-paid residuals for five Fox animated series. The settlement addressed interest on residuals that had been paid late, rather than the residuals themselves. The five series were Fox animated shows. The event was reported by Deadline, which described the agreement as a settlement between WGA West and Disney over interest on late residuals for the five Fox animated shows.
WGA West reached a $5.25 million settlement with Disney for interest owed on late-paid residuals for five Fox animated series.
Source excerpt
The WGA West has reached a $5.25 million settlement with Disney for interest owed on late-paid residuals for five Fox animated series: The Simpsons, Family Guy, The Cleveland Show, American Dad! and Futurama.
2020
Disney's Mulan faces renewed boycott calls over Xinjiang filming credits
Public backlash
Disney's film Mulan faced renewed boycott calls after its closing credits thanked government agencies in Xinjiang, a region where the article reports Muslim Uighurs were being held in internment camps. Human rights groups and foreign media have reported abuses there; the article does not establish a legal finding against Disney.
Company response
Clarification — Disney
She said some scenery from "Mulan" was shot in China. She said acknowledging governments that let you film on location is a widely followed practice.
Source excerpt
Mulan is facing renewed calls for a boycott after authorities in China's western region of Xinjiang - where some one million Muslim Uighurs are reportedly being held in internment camps - were thanked in the film's closing credits.
And this month, keen-eyed critics noticed that part of the movie was filmed in the Chinese region of Xinjiang. Disney thanked Xinjiang authorities in the credits.
Calls for a boycott of "Mulan" have grown.
2020
Disney sued over Toy Story 4 character
Lawsuit filed
A news headline reported that Disney was sued over a "daredevil character" in Toy Story 4. The supplied source provides no further details about the claim, including the parties involved, the nature of the allegations, or the outcome. This note records only the existence of the reported lawsuit as described in the headline and does not add any additional facts.
A headline reported that Disney was sued over a "daredevil character" in Toy Story 4; the supplied source provides no further details about the claim.
Source excerpt
Disney sued over Toy Story 4 'daredevil character'
2020
Disney CFO addresses controversy over Mulan credits
Company response
In September 2020, Disney CFO Christine McCarthy addressed the controversy surrounding the end credits of Mulan. According to McCarthy, the credits acknowledged the governments and locations that allowed the film to be shot in China and New Zealand. The statement was made in response to the uproar over the credits, which had drawn public attention. The source report identifies McCarthy as the Disney executive who commented on the matter and summarizes her explanation that the acknowledgments were tied to filming permissions and locations in the two countries.
Disney CFO Christine McCarthy addressed the uproar over Mulan’s end credits, saying the credits acknowledged governments and locations that allowed filming in China and New Zealand.
Company response
Clarification — Disney
The real facts are that Mulan was primarily shot — almost in entirety — in New Zealand. In an effort to accurately depict some of the unique landscape and geography of the country of China for this period drama, we filmed scenery in 20 different locations in China.
Source excerpt
Disney CFO Christine McCarthy recently addressed the uproar surrounding the film – and particularly that credit – while appearing at the Bank of America Virtual 2020 Media, Communications, & Entertainment Conference.
The real facts are that Mulan was primarily shot — almost in entirety — in New Zealand. In an effort to accurately depict some of the unique landscape and geography of the country of China for this period drama, we filmed scenery in 20 different locations in China.
The latest is due to the film’s end credits sequence, which offers “special thanks” to the Turpan Municipal Bureau of Public Security, a Chinese bureau that has been tied to the oppression and cultural genocide of Uyghur Muslims in the region.
2019
Lawsuit over X-Men animated series theme song
Lawsuit filed
A lawsuit was filed concerning the theme song of X-Men: The Animated Series. Zoltan Krisko sued Marvel Entertainment and other companies, alleging copyright infringement over similarities between the X-Men: The Animated Series theme and the theme of the Hungarian television show Linda. According to the article, the lawsuit also lists Disney, Fox, and Amazon among the defendants. The dispute centers on the alleged resemblance between the two musical works.
Source excerpt
K&K Promotions is suing Disney and Pixar for damages, saying they ripped off Knievel's image without permission, and made money off of Duke Caboom toys!
More importantly, K&K claims they own all the rights to Evel Knievel's likeness, persona, and brand and says the Mouse House did NOT get any type of approval to base one of their characters after Evel.
A company called K&K Promotions just filed suit against Disney, Pixar and whole a bunch of their subsidiaries ... claiming the stuntman driver toy that Keanu Reeves voiced in the latest 'Toy Story' flick is a clear and obvious rip-off of the legendary American motorcycle daredevil.
2019
Disney-branded Minnie costumes recalled in mainland China over excess pH
Recall announced
Shanghai International Theme Park Co., Ltd. filed a recall plan for 640 Disney-branded Minnie costumes in mainland China. According to the source, the pink fabric in the affected costumes exceeded the pH limit and could irritate children's skin. The report stated that the recall involved no complaints, claims, accidents, or injuries.
上海国际主题乐园有限公司 filed a recall plan for 640 Disney-branded Minnie costumes in mainland China. The pink fabric in the affected costumes exceeded the pH limit and could irritate children's skin; the source reported no complaints, claims, accidents, or injuries in connection with this recall.
Company response
Recall — 上海国际主题乐园有限公司
上海市场监管微信公众号发布消息称，上海国际主题乐园有限公司主动向上海市市场监督管理局备案了召回计划，自2019年9月29日起至2019年12月28日止召回品牌为迪士尼的米妮礼服/戏服
Source excerpt
上海市场监管微信公众号发布消息称，上海国际主题乐园有限公司主动向上海市市场监督管理局备案了召回计划，自2019年9月29日起至2019年12月28日止召回品牌为迪士尼的米妮礼服/戏服，中国大陆地区待召回数量640件，本次召回范围内的米妮礼服/戏服粉红色面料pH值超标，可能对儿童皮肤产生刺激。
本次召回的童装产品并未涉及投诉索赔、事故及人员伤亡情况，属公司对问题产品的主动召回。
2019
Trust Your Journey sues Disney over slogan use
Lawsuit filed
Trust Your Journey filed a lawsuit alleging that Disney used its trademarked “Trust Your Journey” slogan on Frozen 2 merchandise without authorization. It asked Disney to stop using the slogan and sought a portion of Frozen 2 profits.
Source excerpt
the Nevada-based Trust Your Journey company filed the suit, claiming that Disney is illegally using its slogan on items such as T-shirts, posters, and jewelry even after the company trademarked the phrase.
2019
Disney alerts theaters to flashing-light sequences in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Hazard disclosure
Disney notified theaters that certain visuals and sustained flashing-light sequences in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker might affect viewers with photosensitive epilepsy or other photo sensitivities, and recommended that theaters provide a notice to customers.
Stated objective. Out of an abundance of caution
Source excerpt
“Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that you provide at your venue box office and online, and at other appropriate places where your customers will see it, a notice containing the following information: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker contains several sequences with imagery and sustained flashing lights that may affect those who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy or have other photo sensitivities.”
The Hollywood Reporter recently noted that Disney has given notification to theaters surrounding certain sequences in the film.
“certain visuals and sustained flashing lights sequences” might have an effect on viewers with photosensitive epilepsy.