Disney Layoffs Celebrated by Critics: 'Go Woke Go Broke'

Newsweek

2 days ago

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Disney's recent announcement that it will be laying off hundreds from its film, TV and finance divisions has led to gloating by critics, who view this as a result of the company "going woke."
Newsweek has reached out to Disney via email for comment.
Why It Matters
"Go woke, go broke" is a phrase that has been popularized in recent years, often adopted by conservative groups to celebrate the financial difficulties of companies they view as having embraced progressive ideals or supported left-wing political causes. It has also been used as a rallying call for boycotts of certain corporations, including Bud Light, Target, and Disney itself.
While the company's overall financial performance remains strong per its most-recent results, the layoffs coincide with challenges in Disney's film businesses, in particular the underwhelming box-office performance of its live-action remake of Snow White.
What To Know
A report from Reuters, citing an unnamed source familiar with the matter, said that Disney plans on laying off hundreds from its film, TV and corporate finance divisions. Disney spokespeople confirmed the layoffs to the BBC and USA Today, and attributed these to the "rapid" transformation of the industry and the need to "efficiently manage our businesses while fueling the state-of-the-art creativity and innovation."
The California-based company employs around 230,000 people, 60,000 of whom are based abroad. The last major layoff announcement came in 2023, when Disney said it would be reducing the headcount by 7,000 as part of a cost-cutting initiative.
File photo: Fans are reflected in Disney+ logo during the Walt Disney D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, on September 9, 2022.
File photo: Fans are reflected in Disney+ logo during the Walt Disney D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, on September 9, 2022.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
After the news broke, it was shared heavily online, with conservative-leaning commenters in particular celebrating. Many employed the catchphrase "go woke, go broke," while pointing to the recent release of Snow White as evidence.
In addition to a weak critical reception, the film became mired in controversy due to political comments made by lead actress Rachel Zegler in the run-up to its release; the casting of a Latina actress as the titular character; and the use of CGI to reimagine the seven dwarfs. The latter also drew scrutiny from actors with dwarfism, who felt the decision deprived performers of potential roles. The film ended up a box-office bomb, grossing $205.5 million on a budget Forbes estimated at around $300 million.
What People Are Saying
A spokesperson for Disney told the BBC: "We have been surgical in our approach to minimize the number of impacted employees."
They added that none of the affected teams would be closed down entirely.
One X user reposted the news of the layoffs, writing: "Seems the only way these companies learn what viewers want is through financial lessons."
"If you think Disney is correcting course by these layoffs, then you don't know Disney well enough. They're faaaaar from stepping away from WOKE," another wrote.
Disney CEO Bob Iger, in response to a question on Disney's "wokeness" during a shareholder meeting last April, said: "I'm sensitive to that."
Quoted by Business Insider, Iger continued: "Our primary mission needs to be to entertain and then through our entertainment to continue to have a positive impact on the world. And I'm very serious about that. It should not be agenda-driven."
What Happens Next?
While other recent releases—including Captain America: Brave New World, the fourth installment in the Marvel franchise—have similarly struggled to break even at the box office, Disney's remake of Lilo & Stitch remains a box-office leader in North America, already raking in $613 million globally to become the third-highest grossing film of 2025.