In the face of mounting political pressure from progressive opposition, Disney’s latest move continues the company’s plunge into left-wing politics.
On Tuesday night, Disney named longtime Democrat operative Kristina Schake as their new Executive Vice President of Global Communications and will serve as the lead spokesperson for the company. Schake will report to Geoff Morrell, the company’s Chief Corporate Affairs Officer.
The Walt Disney Company announced on Twitter, “We’re pleased to welcome Kristina Schake as Executive Vice President of Global Communications. She will be responsible for our worldwide communications strategy and operations, and serve as the Company’s lead spokesperson.”
Schake commented on her move to Disney on Twitter, “I’m honored to be joining Walt Disney Company as Executive Vice President of Global Communications. I have long admired Disney’s unique connection to people around the world and I’m thrilled to become part of the magic as the company approaches its 100th anniversary.”
In a press release announcing her hiring, Schake also said, “As Disney approaches its 100th anniversary, I’m excited to lead the company’s global communications work at this pivotal moment of growth and transformation.”
“The magical stories and experiences Disney creates enrich the lives of countless people around the world and it’s an honor for me to be a part of that, helping Bob Chapek, Geoff Morrell, and the talented teams throughout the company tell the story of Disney as it begins its second century,” she added.
Morrel reacted to the hiring of Schake on Twitter writing, “Super excited to welcome Kristina Schake to our team. She is a total pro and we are lucky to have her!”
In the press release, he added, “I could not be more pleased to welcome Kristina to Disney and to have her leading communications for the company.”
“Her experience in the public and private sectors, in political and corporate campaigns, make her ideally suited for this important role and to help me integrate communications with government relations, public policy, and corporate social responsibility into a new Corporate Affairs team,” he continued.
Morrell concluded, “Together with the exceptional professionals at Disney, we will help the world’s greatest storytelling company engage even more effectively with our many stakeholders around the world.”
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Schake has a long history of working with Democrat administrations. Last year, Schake was appointed in 2021 by President Joe Biden as counselor to the secretary for strategic communications at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Schake was in charge of leading the White House’s COVID-19 vaccine education to convince individuals and businesses to promote the vaccine to mass audiences.
Disney touted this role in their press release noting, “Schake has spent three decades working at the nexus of government, media, business, entertainment, and technology. Most recently, she was appointed by President Biden to lead the nationwide COVID-19 vaccine education campaign and was previously Global Communications Director for Instagram.”
Schake also served as a top assistant to former President Barack Obama, a Communications Director for former First Lady Michelle Obama, and was a Deputy Communications director for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Again Disney touted these as well noting, “Schake was Deputy Communications Director for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and served in the Obama administration as Special Assistant to the President and Communications Director to the First Lady.”
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This move to hire Schake comes at a time of intense left-wing backlash over Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s initial refusal to oppose the state of Florida’s Parental Rights in Education bill banning the teaching of sexuality and transgenderism to children between kindergarten through third grade.
Schake’s arrival more than likely looks to smooth over the company’s messaging with left-wing advocates especially given her history in California.
In 2009, Schake co-founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights, a progressive nonprofit organization that was created in opposition to the ban on same-sex marriage. The organization challenged the state of California’s ban on same-sex marriage and was ultimately overturned with a Supreme Court decision in 2013, the organization was later disbanded two years later.
Schake also found herself in the middle of the #MeToo Harvey Weinstein scandal. Back in December 2017, a New York Times piece entitled “Weinstein’s Complicity Machine” alleged that actress Lena Dunham and columnist Tina Brown cautioned Schake of Weinstein’s treatment of women.
Specifically Dunham said she told Schake in 2016, “I just want you to let you know that Harvey’s a rapist and this is going to come out at some point.”
“I think it’s a really bad idea for him to host fund-raisers and be involved because it’s an open secret in Hollywood that he has a problem with sexual assault,” Dunham claimed.
According to Dunham, Schake said they would share this information with campaign manager Robby Mook. Schake later denied that Dunham “mentioned rape,” and Hillary Clinton’s team said Dunham should’ve contacted the police, not Hillary’s aides, about the allegations.
Disney’s hiring of Schake as their new spokesperson will bring ease to LGBTQ activists within the company who are looking for strong allies after Chapek’s failure to immediately stand with them.
However, in the ongoing battle between parents and Disney’s activism, the hiring of a well-known Democrat operative will not cool concerns about the media giant’s plunge into the far left.
What do you make of Disney hiring Kristina Schake? Are you surprised they would hire a radical left wing operative?
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