ABC and Disney Face FCC Investigation for Alleged DEI Discrimination
- by: Matt Palumbo
- March 31, 2025
- Source:
Silverloch
- 03/31/2025
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has initiated an investigation into ABC and its parent company Disney following accusations of discriminatory practices related to their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. DEI policies have long been accused of being discriminatory against Whites and Asians.
The probe is thanks to a complaint filed by America First Legal (AFL), a conservative legal organization, claiming that the companies' DEI initiatives violate federal anti-discrimination laws. According to AFL’s complaint, ABC and Disney have implemented hiring and promotion practices that prioritize race, gender, and sexual orientation over merit, resulting in the exclusion of certain groups, particularly white males. The complaint alleges that these policies breach Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.
The FCC, which oversees broadcast television and radio licenses, has jurisdiction over ABC due to its ownership of several local TV stations across the U.S.. If the investigation finds evidence of discriminatory practices, it could potentially jeopardize ABC's broadcast licenses, a move that would have significant implications for Disney's media empire.
According to Fox Business:
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced "I have asked the FVVs Enforcement Bureau to open an investigation into Disney & ABC. While Disney started as an iconic American company, it recently went all in on DEI. "I am concerned that their DEI practices may violate FCC prohibitions on invidious forms of discrimination."
In his letter addressed to Disney CEO Robert Iger, Carr explains he wants "to ensure that Disney and ABC have not been violating FCC equal employment opportunity regulations."
According to Carr, the Communications Act and FCC "prohibit regulated entities like Disney's ABC from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, or gender."
DEI policies exploded in major U.S. corporations in the post-George Floyd era, and job losses during the pandemic provided many of them with a way to rearrange their companies without it looking discriminatory. For example, of companies in the S&P 100 index, only 6% of jobs recovered following the pandemic employment crash were white.
