Barry King / WireImage
The Los Angeles Times alleged Friday that the Walt Disney company was taking retaliatory action against the newspaper after it published stories examining the company’s business and political activity in Anaheim, California, that Disney deemed “unfair.”
The newspaper said Disney refused to offer advance screenings of its films for movie reviewers in response to two September stories examining whether the company had paid its “fair share” to the city where Disneyland is located.
In a statement on the LA Times website, the newspaper wrote:
“The annual Holiday Movie Sneaks section published by the Los Angeles Times typically includes features on movies from all major studios, reflecting the diversity of films Hollywood offers during the holidays, one of the busiest box-office periods of the year. This year, Walt Disney Co. studios declined to offer The Times advance screenings, citing what it called unfair coverage of its business ties with Anaheim. The Times will continue to review and cover Disney movies and programs when they are available to the public.”
LA Times film writer Glenn Whipp tweeted the statement to explain to readers why there was no review of the new Thor: Ragnarok movie in Friday’s paper.
Whipp also directly accused Disney CEO Bob Iger, who is rumored to be considering a presidential run, of having little regard for journalism and freedom of the press.
Glenn Whipp / Via Twitter: @GlennWhipp
“Is this how Bob Iger would react to reporters asking touch questions should he run for office?” Whipp tweeted. “Also wondering: How does @ABC feel about this action?”
Representatives for Walt Disney Studios and ABC News, which Disney owns, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.