“Why do I have to have a Marvel that’s all women?” Billionaire investor and major shareholder Nelson Peltz criticized woke Disney and Marvel amid a board proxy battle. Nelson Peltz, billionaire investor and principal at Trian Partners, which holds a substantial $3.5 billion stake in Disney, has entered a vigorous proxy contest in a bid to secure seats on the company’s board.
In January 2023, Trian revealed a significant $2.5 billion investment in Disney, citing concerns over the company’s hefty $71 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2017, which burdened it with debt, alongside the entertainment giant’s stagnant share price and diminishing margins. Despite these reservations, Peltz decided to halt the proxy battle just a month later, lauding Iger’s strategy to trim expenses and reintroduce dividends.
RELATED: Disney CEO Bob Iger Announces Slowdown In Marvel Content, But Wokeness Will Stay
Nevertheless, fueled by a sense of impatience stemming from perceived sluggishness in addressing key issues, Peltz reignited his bid for board representation in November, much to Disney’s dismay. Currently, Trian commands a formidable Disney stake of approximately $3.5 billion.
During an interview with the Financial Times and as reported by Zerohedge, Nelson Peltz didn’t mince his words when discussing the direction of the DEI-driven entertainment conglomerate. “Disney’s approach lacks strategic foresight because my aim isn’t to oust Bob Iger, but to assist him,” he asserted, emphasizing, “We’re not in the business of replacing CEOs.”
In response, Disney highlighted Nelson Peltz’s failure to offer any substantive strategic proposals over the past two years while actively seeking board representation. Unfazed, Nelson Peltz retorted to the Times, “They say we know nothing about the movie business — we don’t claim we do — but I don’t think they do, with five big losers in a row. They’ve lost first place in animation, they’ve lost first place in features . . . Maybe it’s time to change management in those divisions,” adding: “I wanted to invest in companies [that are] good companies, but they’re just sort of missing it a little bit . . . That’s still the attitude.”
When asked if it was time for Kevin Feige to go, Nelson Peltz answered: “I’m not ready to say that, but I question his record.” Expressing disdain for excessive wokeness in Disney’s productions, Peltz stated, “People go to watch a movie or a show to be entertained. They don’t go to get a message.”
Taking aim at The Marvels and Black Panther, which portrayed female and Black superheroes, respectively, Nelson Peltz expressed exactly what Marvel fans have been saying lately: “Why do I have to have a Marvel that’s all women? Not that I have anything against women, but why do I have to do that? Why can’t I have Marvels that are both? Why do I need an all-Black cast?”
RELATED: Bob Iger’s Disney Has 99 Problems, But Positive Messages Ain’t One
As the Disney proxy battle nears its climax with a shareholder vote slated for April 3, both camps are actively garnering support from influential figures in the business realm. While Iger enjoys endorsements from luminaries such as JPMorgan Chase & Co. CEO Jamie Dimon and filmmaker George Lucas, Peltz has rallied backing from a coalition of current and former directors from prominent firms.
Peltz is resolute in his commitment to leveraging his influence constructively. Whether it’s challenging entrenched management practices or advocating for strategic shifts, Peltz remains steadfast in his mission to enhance shareholder value.
NEXT: The Pokémon Company International SHUTS DOWN Rom Free Fan Games, Relic Castle DMCA’d Off The Net
Leave a Reply