‘Lion King’ Fundraiser Fallout: Disney Apologizes For Demanding Fee From Elementary School

Disney CEO Bob Iger took to Twitter on Thursday to formally apologize for his company demanding a portion of the proceeds an elementary school raised by screening the recent “Lion King” remake. Emerson Elementary School in Berkeley, California, was ordered to pay $250, roughly one-third of the total money raised, for “illegally screening” the film.

Our company @WaltDisneyCo apologizes to the Emerson Elementary School PTA,” Iger, tweeted. “I will personally donate to their fund raising initiative.”

Movie Licensing USA, the company that manages licensing for Disney and a number of other movie studios, issued the order in an email to the school. The film was purchased by a parent and screened at the school in October as part of a “parent’s night out” themed fundraiser. The event raised $800.

“Any time a movie is shown outside of the home, legal permission is needed to show it, as it is considered a Public Performance,” Movie Licensing USA said in an email to the school.

The licensing manager has not yet made any public comment on the situation.

The move initially drew intense criticism, but online and from people associated with Emerson Elementary. Lori Droste, an Emerson parent, criticized Disney for using a corporate loophole to avoid paying local property taxes, leading to the school’s need for a fundraiser in the first place.

“It's just so appalling that an incredibly wealthy corporation... is having its licensing agents chase after a PTA having to raise insane amounts of money just to pay teachers, cover financial scholarships and manage school programs,” Droste said.