A week after announcing it was putting theatrical distribution in Russia on hold Disney has said it will pause all its businesses in Russia due to the “unprovoked” invasion of Ukraine.
Content and product licensing, Disney Cruise Line activities, National Geographic magazine and tours, local content productions and linear channels have and are being paused. The company said it would continue to employ its colleagues in Russia.
The move comes after all the major Hollywood studios have put their theatrical distribution activities in Russia on hold and Warner Bros said it would not release The Batman there.
On Wednesday Amazon said it was suspending Prime Video and all shipments in Russia and Belarus, several days after Netflix ceased operating its platform in Russia.
Disney’s statement comes as the company faces opposition to an unrelated matter, namely its stance on Florida’s proposed Don’t Say Gay law that bans discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. Disney operates Disney World in the state.
The full statement on Russia appears below.
Last week, after Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, we announced that we were pausing the release of theatrical films in Russia and reviewing the rest of our businesses there.
Given the unrelenting assault on Ukraine and the escalating humanitarian crisis, we are taking steps to pause all other businesses in Russia. This includes content and product licensing, Disney Cruise Line activities, National Geographic magazine and tours, local content productions and linear channels.
Some of those business activities we can and will pause immediately. Others – such as linear channels and some content and product licensing – will take time given contractual complexities.
Even as we pause these businesses, we remain committed to our dedicated colleagues in Russia, who will remain employed. And we continue to work with our NGO partners to provide urgent aid and other much-needed assistance to refugees.
No comments yet