Ex-Disney CEO Bob Chapek Accuses Bob Iger of Sabotage in New Memoir
Chapek alleges his predecessor played a "preconceived role" in his ouster, calling Iger a "sniper" in "Behind the Castle Walls."
Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek claims in his upcoming memoir that Bob Iger intentionally worked to undermine his tenure and orchestrate his removal from the company's top job. Chapek details these accusations in "Behind the Castle Walls: My Thirty Years at the Happiest Place on Earth," scheduled for release next Tuesday.
In the book, Chapek writes that Iger, his predecessor and handpicked successor, had "an intentional and preconceived role in abruptly ending my ride as Disney CEO." He expresses his frustration, stating, "In truth, it pisses me off." Chapek asserts that he "didn’t get a chance to finish what I started."
The former CEO alleges that Iger, who briefly returned to the CEO position after Chapek's 2022 dismissal, began maneuvering to reclaim the role shortly after stepping down in 2020. Chapek recounts feeling blindsided by a New York Times report in April 2020 that suggested Iger was effectively back in charge as the pandemic impacted Disney. He also claims Iger leveraged his extensive relationships with Disney directors, industry producers, and other influential figures to weaken his standing.
Chapek further contends that Iger approved Disney's strong public response to Scarlett Johansson's 2021 lawsuit regarding the streaming release of "Black Widow," a move that ultimately led to significant backlash against Chapek within Hollywood. "It was Bob from flyover Indiana, educated at a state school, who disrupted the business and kept the studio afloat with an endeavor others had dismissed as ‘creative heresy,’" Chapek writes about his earlier initiatives, positioning himself as an underestimated disruptor.
Speculation about Iger's potential foreknowledge of the pandemic's impact on Disney's business also features in Chapek's account. He notes that several government and business figures suggested to him that Iger might have foreseen the coming global disruptions. Chapek questioned whether he was positioned as a "sacrificial lamb" to handle difficult decisions like layoffs while Iger protected his legacy.
These revelations come despite Disney's board publicly supporting Chapek just months before his termination. In June 2022, the board unanimously extended his contract, citing his "strong leadership during the pandemic, business results, and transformation strategy." However, following a significant drop in Disney's stock price in November 2022 after a disappointing earnings report, the board opted to reinstate Iger.
Disney's official announcement stated Chapek had "stepped down," but an SEC filing clarified that the company "exercised its right to terminate without cause" his employment. Chapek maintains he was not offered the option to resign, writing that Disney "didn’t even give me the option of resigning."
The New York Post has reached out to Iger for comment, and Disney declined to comment on the memoir's claims.