Bob Chapek vs. Bob Iger is again, child! The most recent growth is that this saga virtually performed out in an precise courtroom and never simply by way of palace intrigue in Hollywood and monetary media. This text shares some attention-grabbing anecdotes from Disney’s Bob Swap™️ and the Battle of the Bobs by way of prolonged article that paperwork how the drama unfolded due to new interviews with the Bobs’ colleagues, pals, and spokespeople.
That is the the primary there have been any main new developments in all of this in over a yr–one yr and two days, to be actual. It’s the second time we’ve really been handled to Chapek’s model of occasions on this complete sordid affair, making for an attention-grabbing and fewer one-sided abstract.
If you happen to’ve simply joined Bob vs. Bob already in progress, you’re in for a deal with. We aren’t going to recap all the pieces that has transpired, however right here’s a fast refresher. After being named CEO in early 2020, Disney Fired CEO Bob Chapek and Rehired Bob Iger as CEO again in November 2022. That article recapped this saga relationship again to 2020 and coated why we weren’t shocked by this growth.
There have been a whole lot of subsequent developments within the Battle of the Bobs that trickled out over the course of the final two years, however the Disney drama had been coloured by Bob Iger bias. It was apparent that the Iger camp was offering background, whereas Chapek saved just about utterly silent.
That’s, till round this time final yr when information “broke” that Bob Chapek Claimed Being Disney CEO Was 3 Years of Hell, However He Pet a Hippo. That was very clearly written in coordination with the Chapek camp, and admittedly, it nonetheless made him look incompetent. Positive, it additionally made Bob Iger look dangerous, nevertheless it was sort of exceptional that this was one of the best Chapek had as his rebuttal within the smear marketing campaign.
It seems that it wasn’t. The brand new-for-September 2024 piece within the New York Occasions is the lengthiest, most complete, and pro-Chapek piece thus far. The entire saga has been equal elements Succession and Sport of Thrones…or a sequel to DisneyWar. Oh, and this specific NYT piece has a byline from the writer of DisneyWar!
I discovered the newest lengthy learn, The Palace Coup on the Magic Kingdom, to be very fascinating and extremely partaking. If you happen to’re new to this saga, you’re in for a deal with–and are higher off studying that than this submit. Simply being sincere–James Stewart and Brooks Barnes can write circles round me.
Nevertheless, in case you are not new to this, honest warning–it has about 95% overlap with the hippo piece from this identical time final yr. Provided that and since that is like our twenty third article on the Battle of the Bobs, I’m going to chop to the chase and give attention to just a few of essentially the most fascinating revelations.
It is sensible to start out firstly, which is that the article reiterates the Chapek being chosen as Iger’s successor and the accelerated plan for him to take the helm as CEO started in December 2019, was cemented in January 2020, and had nothing to do with COVID.
I’m sorry, however I simply don’t imagine this. Each Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland closed in January 2020–one full month earlier than the abrupt announcement that Iger was stepping down, efficient instantly, to get replaced by Bob Chapek. The notion that Iger would go away the helm with a lot unfinished enterprise, with out an externality simply strains credulity. Iger is all about his legacy and stepping away in early 2020 makes completely no sense from that perspective, however for COVID.
As we’ve maintained because the starting, Iger noticed the writing on the wall in early 2020. Articles with inside data from 2020 and 2021 make apparent that Iger didn’t actually wish to retire, and wouldn’t have however for COVID. Chapek was chosen as a matter of expediency–to be the hatchet man who made unpopular and hard selections to get the Walt Disney Firm via a troublesome time earlier than the triumphant return of Iger.
I imagine Iger, Chapek, and the board had talks about succession in 2019. Positive, why not. Iger talked about that so much. However given all the pieces we learn about Iger and potential successors through the years, it’s curious that that is simply accepted by the media as how issues unfolded. Whether or not Chapek was arrange as a fall man or a witting and keen participant within the course of is extra of an open query.
Apart from this, there are much more anti-Iger statements and colour commentary within the newest piece, which is probably going geared toward higher stability. From earlier reporting, we already knew that Bob Chapek seen his tenure at Disney as “three years of hell,” outlined by one overriding theme: frequent concern that Iger wished his job again.
This reiterates that, whereas additionally including background to the drama and backstabbing that performed out between the Bobs, and the way the board acted as an middleman. The final sense of that’s Chapek was informed to be deferential to Iger at first given his expertise and relationships, however over time, the board turned extra sympathetic to Chapek. Not less than, till they weren’t.
None of that is going to shock anybody who has paid any diploma of consideration to this saga. It’s all totally plausible, and precisely what you’d count on given what has come out beforehand. A few of this makes Iger look dangerous–petty, vindictive, and unable to cede his grasp on the throne. It truly makes us mildly sympathetic to Chapek!
In different instances, Iger being fingers on and taking the wheel, so to talk, is totally anticipated given Chapek’s lack of expertise and his many unforced errors. Regardless of this being a prolonged article, there’s a lot that’s been coated elsewhere that’s glossed over shortly right here–the Solid Member furloughs and worth will increase, specifically, come to thoughts as disputes over which Iger was 100% appropriate and vindicated on virtually instantly. If something, maybe Iger ought to’ve been extra assertive and fingers on.
There are additionally issues for which Chapek is unfairly maligned. The massive one is Disney’s streaming losses. It was at all times the plan for Disney+ to lose cash because it chased subscriber numbers and development over profitability. Chapek doubled down on this on the behest of Wall Avenue, and when he had no different choices whereas the parks have been closed and streaming subscriptions have been exploding.
It was completely the proper transfer on the time, and one which was rewarded by Wall Avenue…till it wasn’t. Anybody who was harsh about these billion-dollar streaming losses in 2022 both essentially misunderstood what was taking place, or did perceive, however had unfairly moved the goalposts.
That was simply one in all a number of Chapek-era selections that has been unfairly vilified. He was compelled to make a whole lot of powerful and unpopular selections as a result of these have been the one playing cards he needed to play. Admittedly, I didn’t like a whole lot of these as a fan, however understood them given the circumstances. However ultimately, Chapek additionally made it very troublesome to defend these selections as a result of he did such an abysmal job of that himself. His horrible messaging was a legal responsibility on a number of events, and he had a knack for making a nasty scenario someway worse.
One of many largest tidbits from the NYT piece is that Chapek employed Bryan Freedman, a lawyer in Los Angeles identified for dealing with high-profile media departures, after he was fired by Disney. Mr. Freedman suggested Chapek that he had “a really sturdy authorized declare in opposition to Bob Iger for illegally interfering together with his skill to do his job.”
Nevertheless, Chapek informed the legal professional that his youngsters and grandchildren have been a “Disney household” and he couldn’t carry himself to file a lawsuit that may damage the corporate, in keeping with Mr. Freedman.
The article additionally signifies that Chapek has felt “muzzled by a severance settlement” and stayed within the background within the face of what he considers unflattering, unfair and, in some instances, inaccurate accounts of his management. Although Chapek joined the board of a medical expertise agency, the article signifies that few different alternatives have come his means.
I don’t doubt that Chapek employed an legal professional or feels that means. A few issues, although. First, there’s most likely extra to the story. If I rent an legal professional and in the end don’t pursue authorized motion, in fact my legal professional goes to supply a face-saving assertion on my behalf. An legal professional that publicly bad-mouths their very own shoppers is an legal professional who doesn’t get a lot future work.
Not solely that, however you don’t rent an legal professional to guage potential authorized recourse when you have zero intentions of doing something. It’s not like some ambulance chaser propositioned Chapek out of the blue and he shut it down with an admirable, “no, we’re a Disney household, I can’t damage the corporate I really like even when it hates me.” This was a calculated resolution made by Chapek after measured deliberation, analysis, and steerage. (Arduous to imagine Chapek did any of these issues given his monitor document for the precise reverse at Disney, however being fired and publicly humiliated has a means of humbling a person.)
Extra possible, Chapek was suggested that he had a possible case however that there was an honest chance that he wouldn’t prevail. That it might be expensive, play out in extremely seen vogue within the press, and additional illuminate his many errors as CEO. That he would once more be outmaneuvered by media-savvy Iger at each flip. That it might be troublesome for the profession of his son, who’s a producer at Marvel. Fairly simple resolution to not sue from that perspective.
As for Chapek feeling muzzled, it’s very troublesome to take that declare critically provided that the 2 largest articles within the Battle of the Bobs within the final 367 days have clearly had extra involvement from his camp than Iger’s. If Chapek doesn’t like the way in which he’s portrayed within the media, he ought to look no additional than within the mirror. This is Chapek being portrayed in essentially the most flattering mild, and it’s nonetheless fairly dangerous. For good purpose, as his tenure as CEO was a trainwreck!
Once more, I do really feel slight sympathy for Chapek. He was not arrange for fulfillment, and was thrown headfirst right into a scenario that might’ve been troublesome for even a talented and skilled government. Having Iger breathe down his neck solely exacerbated this. Perhaps issues would’ve performed out otherwise if Iger didn’t step down in 2020, however as an alternative stayed via the storm, started the succession course of then, and left the corporate in early 2022.
Personally, I feel the method would’ve been the completely different–and a lot better–however the finish consequence nonetheless would’ve been the identical. Chapek wouldn’t have been CEO by the tip of 2022. As a result of he by no means would’ve been chosen as CEO within the first place; Bob Iger would’ve realized the error of his methods and chosen another person have been he not in such a rush to call a successor in early 2020.
There’s additionally extra colour commentary that cements Iger selecting Chapek as his successor because the “worst mistake” of his profession. There’s one March 2020 anecdote of Chapek sitting by himself on the corporate jet away from everybody else throughout what ought to’ve been a briefing. It culminates on this: “Mr. Iger instantly felt as if he have been on the marriage ceremony altar with the bride strolling down the aisle. He realized he’d made a horrible mistake. But it surely was too late.”
It’s apparent that Iger had purchaser’s regret with Chapek. Nevertheless, it’s additionally clear that he was a identified amount! Each Bobs knew that Chapek lacked Iger’s charisma and wasn’t a pure communicator. Even Chapek acknowledged that he had low “E.Q.,” or emotional intelligence. Iger urged him to work on this, and urged he schedule one-on-ones with the board to develop rapport and lay out his imaginative and prescient for the way forward for Disney.
Certainly one of my favourite traces from your complete NYT piece is definitely a photograph caption: “Mr. Chapek regularly informed associates that he had low ‘E.Q.,’ or emotional intelligence. To come back throughout as extra personable, he interacted extra regularly with theme park friends and petted a hippo.” There’s simply one thing barely absurd but good in regards to the CEO of one in all America’s most iconic and public-facing firms overtly admitting this after which making an attempt to deal with the difficulty in these methods. An actual chef’s kiss caption.
Suffice to say, it’s troublesome to imagine that Iger didn’t know precisely what he was getting with Bob Chapek. It seems like an eternity in the past, however Bob Chapek was well-known amongst Disney theme park followers and was extensively disliked even earlier than 2020. That is regardless of Chapek presiding over Parks & Resorts throughout an period of enlargement. That is notably at odds with fan response to different executives–Bob Iger was beloved on the time, as have been the person resort complicated presidents and park VPs.
A few of this may be hand-waved away as followers having an outsider view of the corporate, and viewing issues in simplistic and reductionist phrases. It’s simple for followers to view issues as a superb/dangerous dichotomy, and executives as heroes and villains. However actually, that’s kinda the purpose right here. All of us noticed that Chapek lacked emotional intelligence, charisma and attraction.
That is additionally why it’s powerful to be sympathetic in the direction of Bob Chapek. I’m not going to belabor the incalculable x-factors he lacked right here, as that’s one thing he beforehand mentioned at size in Bob Chapek Did Not “Get” Disney. Nevertheless, I’ll add that it wasn’t merely superficial. There are various different causes, together with substantive tales about Chapek’s shortcomings and errors even earlier than he turned CEO.
All of that is the premise for our lengthy held unfavorable opinion of Chapek. Though he appeared to relish insulting and antagonizing followers, there are additionally legitimate bases for the variations in how Iger, D’Amaro, and different members of Disney management are perceived as contrasted with Chapek. It’s not merely a matter of them being higher at manicuring their public picture and Chapek not caring.
It’s additionally troublesome to really feel too badly for Bob Chapek given the injury he inflicted on Disney and its followers, a few of which has since been undone however a whole lot of which by no means can be. There’s additionally the truth that Chapek was paid $20 million in severance to go kick rocks. (Cash effectively spent by Disney, in the event you ask me!)
As for the NYT piece, an unlucky quantity of this reads as center faculty drama–the juvenile nicknames, pointless jabs, and the entire gossip. It’s troublesome to stroll away with something however the sense that everybody right here sucks. It’s going to most likely make you respect the Walt Disney Firm and its management over the past ~5 years just a little (or so much) much less. That’s one pretty unavoidable conclusion.
With that mentioned, there are two paragraphs that stand out to me in the direction of the tip. The primary is about Chapek: “On the identical time, he actually contributed to his personal demise. Quickly after he was named chief government, he stopped ingratiating himself with Mr. Iger. And, by the tip, practically his whole government staff had turned in opposition to him, even individuals he’d employed and promoted. So did the board — not simply Ms. Catz, skeptical of him from the outset, but in addition Ms. Arnold, as soon as his strongest defender.”
Distinction with this, about Iger: “Present Disney executives say Mr. Iger has restored morale and introduced wanted stability to the administration ranks…Mr. Iger was greeted by followers with delirious applause when he appeared onstage at this summer time’s D23 fan gathering in Anaheim, Calif. Mr. Iger was so moved that he needed to struggle again tears earlier than talking.”
In the end, that’s essentially the most insightful a part of this for me–and it’s virtually glossed over: even Chapek’s personal individuals turned in opposition to him by the tip. As we identified again when Chapek was fired, there was an amazing top-to-bottom enchancment in worker morale on the Walt Disney Firm when Bob Iger returned. The largest distinction between the 2 Bobs is in management, and that’s paramount to setting the tone at a artistic firm like Disney.
The NYT piece is an distinctive long-read, nevertheless it doesn’t change something. It simply provides anecdotes and reiterates that there aren’t any heroes or villains right here. Neither Iger nor Chapek are completely responsible or are completely innocent. Even after listening to Chapek’s aspect of the story and feeling ever-so-slightly sorry for him, I’m nonetheless firmly on Iger’s aspect and am very glad that he returned.
I keep that Iger was and is the one one that might navigate the Walt Disney Firm via the tough waters of the previous couple of years–and that he ought to’ve stayed via the pandemic. However I’m additionally able to see him go. Bob Iger is a hero turned arsonist turned firefighter. I hope he will get his blissful ending and emerges as a hero as soon as extra–as a result of I’m a Disney fan and the choice means one thing terrible for the corporate. Past that, it’s time to show the web page and for recent blood and new management.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What are your ideas on Chapek not suing Iger or the corporate as a result of he’s a part of a “Disney household”? Do you’re feeling extra sympathetic to Chapek now? Something so as to add in regards to the timeline and occasions that precipitated Disney’s Bob Swap™️, changing Chapek with Iger? What about anything coated right here? Agree or disagree with the firing of Chapek? Listening to your perspective–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
