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| Disney sidesteps DeSantis board with royal clause | Disney sidesteps DeSantis board with royal clause |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A board picked by Florida's governor to oversee Disney's Orlando theme parks says it has been neutered by a last-minute contract with a royal clause. | |
| Disney ran the area for more than half a century until Florida legislators punished the conglomerate for slamming state laws regulating sex education. | Disney ran the area for more than half a century until Florida legislators punished the conglomerate for slamming state laws regulating sex education. |
| But the new board says its authority has been bypassed by restrictive covenants that cite King Charles III. | But the new board says its authority has been bypassed by restrictive covenants that cite King Charles III. |
| The Republican-aligned board has hired lawyers to settle the matter. | The Republican-aligned board has hired lawyers to settle the matter. |
| "We're going to have to deal with it and correct it," board member Brian Aungst said on Wednesday at a public meeting. | "We're going to have to deal with it and correct it," board member Brian Aungst said on Wednesday at a public meeting. |
| He called Disney's actions "a naked attempt to circumvent the will of the voters and the will of the Florida Legislature". | He called Disney's actions "a naked attempt to circumvent the will of the voters and the will of the Florida Legislature". |
| Watch: Five things to know about Ron DeSantis | Watch: Five things to know about Ron DeSantis |
| Watch: Five things to know about Ron DeSantis | Watch: Five things to know about Ron DeSantis |
| In a brief statement, Disney said "all agreements signed between Disney and the District were appropriate, and were discussed and approved in open, noticed public forums". | In a brief statement, Disney said "all agreements signed between Disney and the District were appropriate, and were discussed and approved in open, noticed public forums". |
| The previous Disney-controlled board was known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, and it ran the sprawling theme park resort in central Florida. | The previous Disney-controlled board was known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, and it ran the sprawling theme park resort in central Florida. |
| It approved the now-disputed agreement on 8 February, the day before the state's Republican-led legislature voted to empower the governor to pick a new board to oversee the 27,000 acres. | It approved the now-disputed agreement on 8 February, the day before the state's Republican-led legislature voted to empower the governor to pick a new board to oversee the 27,000 acres. |
| The newly created Central Florida Tourism Oversight District says the binding agreement passed last month by the previous board hands Disney total power over development of the area. | The newly created Central Florida Tourism Oversight District says the binding agreement passed last month by the previous board hands Disney total power over development of the area. |
| The declaration is valid until "21 years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III, king of England", according to the document. | The declaration is valid until "21 years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III, king of England", according to the document. |
| Such so-called royal lives clauses have been inserted into legal documentation since the 1600s, and they are still found in some contracts in the UK. | |
| The 151-page Florida agreement also states that no "fanciful characters" owned by Disney, including Mickey Mouse, can be used by the board. The use of the name Disney is also banned. | The 151-page Florida agreement also states that no "fanciful characters" owned by Disney, including Mickey Mouse, can be used by the board. The use of the name Disney is also banned. |
| The new board's chairman, Martin Garcia, told an NBC affiliate that they may have to challenge the agreement in "protracted litigation". | The new board's chairman, Martin Garcia, told an NBC affiliate that they may have to challenge the agreement in "protracted litigation". |
| Disney made a political enemy of the governor after criticising the state's Parental Rights in Education Act, signed by Mr DeSantis last April. | Disney made a political enemy of the governor after criticising the state's Parental Rights in Education Act, signed by Mr DeSantis last April. |
| The measure bans instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for pupils aged nine and under. | The measure bans instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for pupils aged nine and under. |
| Supporters of the bill said it protects children from inappropriate content. Opponents dub the legislation "Don't Say Gay" and say it stigmatises LGBT youth. | Supporters of the bill said it protects children from inappropriate content. Opponents dub the legislation "Don't Say Gay" and say it stigmatises LGBT youth. |
| The culture war between Mr DeSantis and Disney has helped elevate the governor's profile as a potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate. | The culture war between Mr DeSantis and Disney has helped elevate the governor's profile as a potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate. |