The Disney Boycott: A Win Against Censorship
The recent boycott of Disney, sparked by Jimmy Kimmel's censorship, has resulted in a significant movement win. After millions of people acted quickly and strategically, the issue has become a liability for Donald Trump, who no longer wants to discuss it.
The boycott, which involved an estimated 1.7 million customers, was a response to Trump's FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, publicly pressuring affiliates to censor Kimmel. The move backfired, exposing Trump's administration as anti-free speech and earning criticism from figures like Joe Rogan.
The whole fiasco exposed him as anti-free speech — so badly that even Joe Rogan took his administration to task.
Journalist Marisa Kabas has highlighted the scale of the boycott, and while historians will provide a more detailed account in the future, it's worth examining the strategy and lessons that can be applied to future movements.
- The boycott began as a response to Brendan Carr's public comments on a podcast, where he leaned on affiliates to censor Kimmel.
- The movement's success demonstrates that collective action can stymie censorship efforts and protect free speech.
Author's summary: The Disney boycott has dealt a significant blow to censorship efforts, highlighting the power of collective action.