Robert Steffens, former CFO and co-president of Marvel, has filed a lawsuit against Disney, claiming he was unjustly denied a promotion due to his age and race. The complaint alleges that Steffens was told by then-Marvel CEO Isaac Perlmutter that former Disney CEO Bob Chapek blocked his promotion to president of Disney consumer products because the company didn't want "another old White guy" in the role. The position was subsequently filled by a woman described in the complaint as having "ambiguous ethnicity."
Furthermore, Steffens contends that his opposition to alleged discriminatory practices within Disney also contributed to the denial. He claims the company was actively promoting vice presidents based on race and was developing a memorandum that would categorize employees using the term "BIPOC."
The lawsuit describes Disney's actions as "willful, wanton, malicious, intentional, oppressive and despicable," carried out with a "conscious disregard" for Steffens' rights and welfare.
Steffens' attorney, Marcella Burke, affirmed their commitment to focusing on the facts and law and vigorously defending their client's interests.
This lawsuit coincides with Disney's recent announcement of scaling back some of its DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs, including the "Reimagine Tomorrow" initiative. This program, according to its now-deactivated website, aimed to amplify underrepresented voices. The initiative was previously linked to a controversial internal meeting where a Disney executive spoke about her "not-at-all-secret gay agenda."
In the leaked meeting footage, ‘Proud Family: Louder and Prouder’ executive producer Latoya Raveneau discussed incorporating LGBTQ+ themes into her work, highlighting the welcoming environment she experienced within the company regarding her efforts.
