FCC investigates Disney over 'DEI,' 'discrimination'

The Walt Disney Company is facing scrutiny again, this time from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and "DEI discrimination." This comes after the company’s live-action remake “Snow White” fell flat at the box office.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced on Friday that he is launching an investigation into Disney, the parent company of ABC, for potential violations of equal employment opportunity regulations related to its DEI efforts. He posted a letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger on X.

Carr's letter to Iger said, "I am writing to inform you that I have asked the FCC's Enforcement Bureau to open an investigation into Disney and ABC. In particular, I want to ensure that Disney and ABC have not been violating FCC equal employment opportunity regulations by promoting invidious forms of DEI discrimination. While I have seen reports that Disney recently walked back some of its DEl programs, significant concerns remain.”

He later added, “For decades, Disney focused on churning out box office and programming successes. But then something changed. Disney has now been embroiled in rounds of controversy surrounding its DEI policies.”

In response, Disney said it will cooperate with the investigation. “We are reviewing the Federal Communications Commission’s letter, and we look forward to engaging with the commission to answer its questions,” according to The Hill.

Carr also recently launched a similar probe into Comcast, the parent company of NBCUniversal, over DEI practices.

Under the Trump administration, efforts to curb DEI programs have picked up steam, with executive orders ending such programs in federal agencies and denying federal funding to institutions that promote them. Disney, like some companies, has pulled back on DEI; however, Carr wrote that there are still concerns about the company being subject to DEI policies.