Disney's Social Media in the Wake of Tragedy

[Goofyernmost]

I suppose in times like this, often better to say nothing at all.

That really is good advice for almost anytime you care to mention.

 

[bsiev1977]

Considering that the Hollywood reporter reported at 12:15 PT (3:15 ET) that Bob Iger had released a statement and you started this thread an hour and 15 minutes later, this thread looks at best to be ill informed and really should be closed since the premise of the thread was wrong.

Why do something logical like that, when everyone on here can take another opportunity to bash the company?

 

[Brad Bishop]

Bob Iger has released a statement as quoted in Hollywood Reporter this afternoon:

Bob Iger, Disney CEO released a statement on the shooting: "We are all heartbroken by the tragic and horrific events in Orlando, and offer our thoughts, prayers and support to everyone in our community affected by this senseless act."

I hate statements like this. I'm not knocking Iger, specifically, but these kinds of statements are so typical of CEOs and the like. They're well parsed and all that. Anything and everything to ensure that they're vanilla statement doesn't bring them any grief.

Imagine a neighbor family down the street being killed and the media came to your door and asked you for a statement and you said something like this. First, you wouldn't because your human and don't have a team of PR writers to create well-parsed statements. If you're not going to speak from your heart then why bother saying anything at all? Second, you'd probably be saying that the SOBs who did this need to be caught and killed. Can't say that if you're a high-ranking official, though. You have to say PC stuff which all amounts to saying a lot of nothing.

 

[bsiev1977]

I hate statements like this. I'm not knocking Iger, specifically, but these kinds of statements are so typical of CEOs and the like. They're well parsed and all that. Anything and everything to ensure that they're vanilla statement doesn't bring them any grief.

Imagine a neighbor family down the street being killed and the media came to your door and asked you for a statement and you said something like this. First, you wouldn't because your human and don't have a team of PR writers to create well-parsed statements. If you're not going to speak from your heart then why bother saying anything at all? Second, you'd probably be saying that the SOBs who did this need to be caught and killed. Can't say that if you're a high-ranking official, though. You have to say PC stuff which all amounts to saying a lot of nothing.

That's the thing, Iger wasn't making a statement of personal feeling. He was making a statement on behalf of a major business entity.

 

[Lirael]

So:
-Personal statement from Iger expressing condolescenses
-Blood drive for CMs
-Counselors for CMs

Look, I'm one of the people quick to complain about disney, but I think they've responded very well here and I applaud that they went with a personal statement rather than a company one (even if it was generic and on behalf of the company) and then went with actions that actually help people.

 

[oceanbreeze77]

Will they light the castle?

 

[donsullivan]

Will they light the castle?

What do you mean by 'light the castle'?

 

[Dead2009]

Why are there some comments debating whether or not the CEO should of released a long, drawn out statement? IMO the only time that should take place is if something happened with them personally or something took place on the company's property.

 

[bsiev1977]

What do you mean by 'light the castle'?

I believe they mean light the castle with special colors, like the Empire State Building does at times

 

[donsullivan]

I believe they mean light the castle with special colors, like the Empire State Building does at times

They have never done it before for anything other than entertainment purposes and despite the scale of this tragedy I canot see them using Cinderella castle in that fashion.

 

[bsiev1977]

They have never done it before for anything other than entertainment purposes and despite the scale of this tragedy I canot see them using Cinderella castle in that fashion.

I agree with you,they're not going to do anything like that

 

[WondersOfLife]

I don't mean to sound like a "what will I get out of this tragedy..." This is just a legit question. I feel so sorry for those involved in this horrible tragedy and I wish them the best of luck in the future.


But my question is... Does anyone think this will have an effect on theme park attendance in Orlando?

 

[Rodan75]

Please note- I am not discussing the tragic events themselves. Rather, I've noticed WDW's varied social media accounts have been VERY quiet today. While I understand not posting the usual stuff, I am somewhat surprised they've not offered the "thoughts and support" line. Both Sea World and UNI have made statements, and yet Disney has not. The closest I have seen is from HOB Orlando.

It just seems odd to me, because I recall that in the wake of the Paris attacks, they had joined in with the condolences.

Wrong day and time to try vilify a company. Poor judgement on this one. This thread should be locked and closed.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I think Disney is being silent on this one because they don't want any connection between terrorism and Walt Disney World.

Such is my thought. I can't fathom any other reason why they'd keep silent.

 

[Matt_Black]

Wrong day and time to try vilify a company. Poor judgement on this one. This thread should be locked and closed.

There is no "vilification", at least not on my part. Now, if I had said, "Shame on them for not offering condolences", you would have a point. I was pointing out the disparate reactions between them and their peers in the local industry. That is hardly vilification.

 

[21stamps]

I don't mean to sound like a "what will I get out of this tragedy..." This is just a legit question. I feel so sorry for those involved in this horrible tragedy and I wish them the best of luck in the future.


But my question is... Does anyone think this will have an effect on theme park attendance in Orlando?

No.

Eta- I'll elaborate a little. If it happened in south Florida,I don't think it would have an effect on cruise people.
Orlando is a big city. It doesn't all revolve around Disney, not for most locals anyway.
And I don't think (most) people choosing a Disney vacay are looking at Orlando nightlife or equating the 2 together.
This was a disgusting act by a disgusting person. But it didn't happen at a theme park or a shopping center. It happened at a night club..and the "average" Disney traveler won't be at a nightclub anyway.

 

[DSteph]

Frankly I find the silence disgusting, yet understandable. Disney's active fanbase is one of the oddest paradoxes of any company I know, uniting both the LGBT community as well as right-wing evangelicals through family-friendly content. So while behind the scenes Disney is more than happy to support the community, hire them, and/or take their money, they won't do anything publicly that could rile up the other side.

Only saying something here shouldn't be about riling anyone up - it should be about humanity. Which is why I still believe Disney should say something considering how strongly this event impacts Disney's employees, fanbase, Orlando, and the country.

As a "right-wing evangelical" myself, let me clear something up. I, and every believer I know, are heartbroken over this senseless act of violence. We pray for peace and comfort for the families/loved ones of the deceased and for physical/emotional healing for the injured. The ignoring this tragedy by Disney, or anyone else, does nothing positive for me/us. We are all created in the image of the Almighty, and we grieve as He does when a man gives into the darkness in his heart. Sometimes we refer to walls that simply don't exist.

 

[gmajew]

They made the only comment they can at this point. Please everyone be respectful 50 people have died and more may still. The only comment that can be made is our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those that have been effected. Nothing more can or should,be said today then that.

 

[danlb_2000]

No.

Eta- I'll elaborate a little. If it happened in south Florida,I don't think it would have an effect on cruise people.
Orlando is a big city. It doesn't all revolve around Disney, not for most locals anyway.
And I don't think (most) people choosing a Disney vacay are looking at Orlando nightlife or equating the 2 together.
This was a disgusting act by a disgusting person. But it didn't happen at a theme park or a shopping center. It happened at a night club..and the "average" Disney traveler won't be at a nightclub anyway.

But the average Disney traveler equates "Orlando" with "Disney".

 

[AEfx]

Where was I bashing Disney?

Eh, it may not have been intentional - but the headline absolutely seriously comes across as really severe click-baiting.

Disney. Silence. Wake of tragedy.

It definitely sounds accusatory and negative, particularly given some of the callous responses that have happened due to where the victims were/who they may have been (as there likely were straight folks involved too, working there or just with gay friends).

Honestly I thought I would open the thread and it was going to say that Disney was intentionally not saying anything because it was a gay club - which I think others have implied. That could be projected due to the other responses out there, but it was instantly what I thought it was about - even after reading. Hence my initial post.