The feud between Disney and Ron DeSantis is escalating once again after it was announced Wednesday that the company is suing the governor of Florida for political vendetta. But “The Daily Show” guest host Desi Lydic thinks the war may have started over something small.
In the complaint filed by Disney, the corporation describes “a targeted campaign of government retaliation orchestrated at every level by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech – now threatening Disney’s business operations, including in the region.” puts its economic future at risk and violates its constitutional rights.”
The move comes just weeks after DeSantis suggested he might build a prison on land adjacent to Walt Disney World property outside Orlando, Florida. On the surface, this all stems from when former CEO Bob Chapek publicly commented on the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. But, Desi Lydic thinks it can all actually be traced back to a certain Disney Renaissance-era character.
“Ron DeSantis has been attacking the Disney Corporation for a year. Ever since Disney criticized his anti-gay bill, and also because they used his image for Quasimodo,” Lydic joked. “Dead ringer!”
For those less familiar with the names of older Disney characters, Quasimodo is the real name of the hunchbacked character in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” To support his claim, an accompanying graphic appeared, using a widely faked shot of DeSantis from a recent press conference and an image from the film.
That said, Lydic felt Disney was taking things too far — and making them too complicated — by bringing things into the courts.
“If they really wanted to raise her, they’d slip the ‘Encanto’ soundtrack to her baby,” she joked. “Trust me, as a parent, that could ruin your life. We don’t talk about Bruno? We don’t talk about adoption if you don’t close it.” Are?
You can watch the full segment from “The Daily Show” in the video above.