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Disney heiress says her grandfather is ‘spinning in his grave’ after Nazi flags were waved

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Disney heiress says her grandfather is ‘spinning in his grave’ after Nazi flags were waved

Abigail Disney, the granddaughter of Roy Disney, has expressed her disgust and outrage at the sight of Nazi flags being waved outside Florida’s Disney World.

The incident was caught on video and posted on Twitter by a Florida state representative.

The footage showed about 15 protestors waving the Nazi flag and hurling racist abuse.

Others were seen carrying signs with homophobic slurs and the n-word.

A ‘DeSantis 2024 Make America Florida’ flag was also planted in the ground nearby.

The Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, is seeking to limit Disney World’s power in Orlando.

Abigail Disney, who is the heiress to the Disney empire, posted her response to the protestors on social media, stating that her grandfather would be ‘spinning in his grave.’

Roy Disney founded the company with his brother, Walt.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office responded to the demonstration, which lasted for about two hours with no arrests.

Two counter-protesters also showed up.

The office issued a statement, saying that they deplored hate speech but that people have the first amendment right to demonstrate.

The statement added that what these groups do is revolting and condemned by the sheriff’s office.

The protest drew criticism from local residents, with one Lisa Gause saying she and her son saw the group while stopped at a red light and were taken aback by the display.

Anna Eskamani, who represents parts of the Orlando region in the Florida House of Representatives, called the display ‘absolutely disgusting’ on Twitter.

She added that every person should condemn the act, regardless of political ideology.

The Florida Holocaust Museum also issued a statement expressing its disappointment.

The museum stated that it was a sad day for humanity when even Disney World, the ‘happiest place on earth,’ was not immune to blatant antisemitism.

It added that displays of Nazi imagery are repugnant and that no family should be confronted with threatening symbols of hate, least of all on vacation.

It is unclear which group and party the protestors back.

DailyMail.com has reached out to DeSantis’ campaign, his office and Disney World for comment.

Walt Disney, the founder of Disney Brothers Studios, was rumored to be anti-Semitic because of stereotypes found in early cartoons.

However, a 2015 documentary dismissed those claims, with several people who knew the man stating they never believed he was anti-Semitic.

The entertainment giant has been at odds with the Florida Governor since last year after it decided, under pressure from employees, to speak out against the state’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, which bans the discussion of homosexuality or LGBTQ issues among younger children.

As a result, DeSantis revoked Disney’s special tax status, known as the Reedy Creek oversight district.

He imposed his own board of governors with the power to close down rides at their theme parks and even threatened to build a prison or a competing theme park next door.

Disney sued DeSantis and Florida’s Tourism Oversight Board for stripping its control over Reedy Creek.

The company accused the Republican governor of ‘weaponizing’ his power to inflict political punishment.

However, Disney has taken a significant reputational hit since the feud began.

The entertainment conglomerate ranked the fifth most polarizing brand of 100 in a new poll, with popularity plummeting among Republicans.

Asked if they were feeling more positive about the company than a year ago, 44 percent of Democrats but only 21 percent of Republicans said they were.

Almost half – 42 percent – of Republicans said their feelings about Disney grew more negative over the past year, compared with 12 percent of Democrats.

More than a third of Republicans, 35 percent, said Disney has become less authentic and more divisive – an assessment shared by only 19 percent of Democrats.

‘The lesson here is that when you divide you subtract.

When you divide audiences, you’re ultimately going to be subtracting customers for your business,’ said Harris Poll CEO John Gerzema.

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