Disney has officially filed a lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
The filing comes after DeSantis' repeated efforts to diminish the power the company has throughout the state of Florida after the company spoke out against the governor's political decisions.
As reported by CNBC News, in the filing, the company's theme park division claims that it has been the target of "government retaliation" and that DeSantis has issued a "relentless campaign to weaponize government power".
Submitting the papers to the U.S. District Court in northern Florida, the company adds that the recent government action against Disney has been "patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional."
Last year, DeSantis signed Florida's "Parental Rights in Education" bill - which was swiftly dubbed the 'Don't Say Gay' bill in the media and by those opposed to the bill. The controversial legislation bans the discussion of "sexual orientation and gender identity" topics in classrooms.
In response, the Walt Disney Company said in a statement that the bill "should never have been signed into law" and that it will now fight to have the law "repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts".
And earlier this year, DeSantis signed legislation that would see Disney World placed under state control, with DeSantis saying back in February: "Today the corporate kingdom finally comes to an end. There's a new sheriff in town, and accountability will be the order of the day."
However, CNN reported earlier this month that Disney appears still in control of the huge amount of land in Orlando.
"They can keep trying to do things, but, ultimately, we’re gonna win on every single issue involving Disney. I can tell you that," DeSantis said of Disney during an event in Michigan.
In its lawsuit today, Disney has said that it regrets that "it has come to this", but after "having exhausted efforts to seek a resolution, the company is left with no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponise government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain state officials."
Meanwhile, CNBC News reports that DeSantis is still expected to become a top Republican contender for the 2024 presidential race.
