It seems the latest company to learn this lesson the hard way is none other than Disney. Just this week, reports surfaced that several hundred employees at The Walt Disney Company are facing layoffs, starting Monday, June 2nd. According to The Post Millennial, these cuts are hitting personnel in Disney Entertainment – that’s marketing, filming, casting, and development – as well as in the corporate finance side of things. This isn’t a small shuffle; it’s a serious clear-out.

This move is part of a bigger plan. When CEO Bob Iger returned in 2023, he aimed to slash a whopping $7.5 billion in costs. That same year, about 7,000 jobs vanished. So, these new layoffs are just another chapter in a painful story for the House of Mouse, a story that seems to have more to do with disappointing its audience than just tightening the belt.

The Layoff Merry-Go-Round

If you think this is just a one-time hiccup, think again. This is reportedly the fourth round of layoffs since the middle of 2024. Back in March of this year, about 200 Disney workers at ABC News got the bad news. And before that, in September 2024, around 300 corporate jobs were axed. Properties like Pixar and even the TV channel Freeform have felt the sting. It’s a pattern, and a sad one at that.

Of course, Disney has its own story for why this is happening. They want us to believe it’s all just normal business.

From ‘USA Today,’ quoting a Disney spokesperson:

The spokesperson attributed the cuts to the “rapid pace” of industry transformation and Disney’s goal to “operate more efficiently.”

“Operate more efficiently.” That’s a nice way to put it. But many believe there’s a much bigger, and frankly, more obvious reason for Mickey’s money troubles.

The Real Ghost in the Machine: Woke Policies

For years now, parents and grandparents have watched in dismay as Disney, once a trusted name in family fun, has veered further and further into pushing a political agenda that makes most families uncomfortable. From strange new characters in kids’ shows to picking fights over commonsense laws, Disney seems determined to lecture rather than entertain. And guess what? People are noticing, and they’re not buying it – literally.

While Disney might point to some good news, like better-than-expected Q2 earnings with revenue up 7% to $23.6 billion, or an increase in Disney+ subscribers, that doesn’t tell the whole story. If your core audience feels betrayed and stops showing up for your movies or visiting your parks as much, a little extra cash from streaming won’t fix the foundational cracks. Imagine how much better they’d be doing if they hadn’t decided to alienate millions who just wanted good, clean fun!

These layoffs, especially in the film and TV departments, might just be the clearest sign yet that “Go Woke, Go Broke” isn’t just a catchy phrase; it’s a business reality. When you spend more time on political posturing than on pleasing your paying customers, sooner or later, something’s got to give. And sadly, it’s often the jobs of hardworking employees who pay the price for bad decisions at the top.

A Cautionary Tale for Woke Companies

So, what’s the moral of this not-so-fairy tale? It’s pretty simple, really. Companies, especially those built on decades of trust from American families, forget their main purpose at their own peril. When you trade beloved characters and timeless stories for fleeting political fads, you’re not just losing money; you’re losing the hearts of your audience.

Perhaps it’s time for the big bosses at Disney, and other companies that have lost their way, to take a good hard look in the mirror. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll realize that most families just want a good story and a happy ending, not a heavy-handed lesson in the latest ideological craze. Until then, the pink slips might just keep on coming. And that, unfortunately, is no laughing matter.

Key Takeaways:

• Disney axes hundreds more jobs amid ongoing corporate cuts.
• Cost-slashing continues under Iger, part of a multi-billion dollar plan.
• Critics argue Disney’s ‘woke’ agenda alienates families, fueling financial woes.

Sources: The Post Millennial, USA TODAY