Disney sues Ron DeSantis for retaliating over ‘woke’ politics, raising stakes in bitter feud

Walt Disney Corp. on Wednesday sued Ron DeSantis, saying the Florida governor unfairly retaliated against the theme park giant over its supposedly “woke” political stands.

The Mickey Mouse company claims in a federal lawsuit that the Republican presidential contender “orchestrated at every step” a campaign to punish Disney for its LGBTQ-friendly policies.

The ugly suit blames DeSantis for launching a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power” that threatens its ability to do business in the Sunshine state.

The suit was filed in Talahassee just minutes after the DeSantis-appointed board of a quasi-municipality that covers Disney’s central Florida home turf voted to void a deal that kept most powers in the company’s hands for decades.

It’s the latest round in a still-escalating feud between DeSantis and Disney, the state’s largest private employer and a massive driver of tourism in Florida.

DeSantis has become a lightning rod for criticism from Republican rivals including former President Donald Trump, who called the fight a rejection of traditional business-friendly GOP policies.

The feud erupted last year after Disney publicly opposed DeSantis’ signature “Don’t Say Gay” law that restricts public school discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The governor hit back by threatening to abolish the self-governing district that includes Disney World theme parks.

DeSantis has also threatened to build a new prison next to the child-friendly entertainment Mecca and sic state inspectors on Disney’s famed rides and monorails.

The governor, who commands total control over the state legislature, later backed off and instead appointed a new board of supervisors that would oversee municipal services in the sprawling theme parks.

But before the new board came in, the company pushed though an 11th hour agreement that stripped the new supervisors of much of their authority.

DeSantis and his new board didn’t even notice the last-minute changes until several week later, prompting rivals to ridicule him for bungling the takeover.

The pro-DeSantis board now claims Disney’s move to retain control over their property was legally flawed.