You never blacklist the press. Not only does it go against the basic principles of freedom of press, but the blow back is never good.
Here’s the deal… Last Disney banned LA Times from access to its screenings and talent, citing “biased and inaccurate” coverage. That set off a domino effect of supporters from even rival papers/outlets.
Alyssa Rosenberg, who writes about films and pop culture for the Washington Post, was the first to announce she would no longer attend screenings presented by Disney films, including Star Wars, or its by subsidiary Marvel.
“As long as Disney is blocking the critics from the Los Angeles Times from press screenings, I can’t in good conscience attend similar showings or write reviews in advance,” she wrote.
Other journalists and outlets swiftly followed, raising the prospect of a public relations disaster for the Walt Disney Company just as the film industry gears up for awards season. The company behind the so-called “happiest place on earth”, Disneyland, now finds itself accused of bullying and press censorship.
The row also shone a light on the company’s CEO, Bob Iger, who has hinted at a future run for political office. Prominent journalists pledged support for the LA Times. “I just took out a subscription to the @LATimes in honor of Disney boycotting the newspaper because it engaged in journalism,” tweeted the CNN anchor Jake Tapper. “Join me!”