MEDIA WATCH | DISNEY MEDIA NETWORKS

Religious Discrimination Brought to the Urgent Attention of Disney

It is hard to conceive that Disney is in any way involved in such hateful, money-motivated messaging. It makes me wonder if amusement park owners in Germany actively worked to create hatred against Jews as you are doing with me and my family.

May 31, 2017

Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks
George W. Bodenheimer
New York, NY 10023-6298

Dear Mr. Bodenheimer:

I have been informed that A&E is planning to air a second installment of Leah Remini’s hate-soaked series attacking my Church—the Church of Scientology. This series is designed to feed on fear, is baseless and is bigoted in the extreme. It is hard to conceive that Disney is in any way involved in such hateful, money-motivated messaging. It makes me wonder if amusement park owners in Germany actively worked to create hatred against Jews as you are doing with me and my family.

Will we soon see a “Punch a Scientologist” attraction at one of your parks? If you have not noticed, these are dangerous times for religion. Religious bigotry is at a fever pitch. What you are allowing and directly condoning is dangerous to innocent people. You should be ashamed of this conduct.

It is a free country and we have freedom of speech, but there is also the right of any business to decide to be or not to be a vehicle for hatred and prejudice. This is your call and your responsibility.

Copy: Jeffrey W. Hamill
Executive Vice President Hearst Media

Very truly yours,
Gerald Beeny
Pasadena, Calif.