I’m largely indifferent to the fate of Disney, but when a very silly religious right groups ends a ridiculous boycott without any of its demands being met, I’m pleased.
A conservative Christian group has ended its boycott of the Walt Disney Co., launched nine years ago in response to what leaders perceived as the erosion of the company’s squeaky-clean image.
“There are so many other issues we need to move on to and deal with that are taking our time and energy,” American Family Association president Tim Wildmon wrote in a letter published Monday on the group’s Web site.
“If you’re going to call for a boycott of a company — if something has become that serious — you need to have all your resources behind it.”
The AFA launched its boycott nine years ago, insisting that Disney ban “Gay Day” events at the company’s theme parks, stop providing benefits to domestic partners of gay employees, and create an advisory panel of evangelical Christians to make sure Disney was making the religious right happy.
In response, Disney ignored the AFA and Michael Eisner refused to even speak to the group’s representatives. None of the group’s demands have been met.
Tim Wildmon said his group’s boycott could have a real impact on the company’s bottom line. Reality proved otherwise. Since the AFA launched its initiative, Disney’s earnings have increased, attendance at its parks has gone up, and the company’s film studio and television network have enjoyed great success.
Right now, several studios are probably wondering what they can do to get the AFA to boycott their company, too.