Latondra Newton, the Walt Disney Company's chief diversity officer since 2017, is leaving the entertainment giant. An internal statement from earlier this week accessed by Variety reported the executive's resignation.
Sent by Sonia Coleman, the company's director of human resources, the memo to employees stated that Newton was resigning from the Walt Disney Company to "pursue other endeavors":
To our extended DEI and HR team,
I’m writing to share the news that Latondra Newton has decided to leave The Walt Disney Company to pursue other endeavors.
Since joining the company in 2017, Latondra has led the company’s strategic diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, including partnering with stakeholders across the enterprise to amplify stories of the world by people around the world. She has been dedicated to ensuring every person sees themselves and their life experiences represented in a meaningful and authentic way.
I know you all join me in thanking Latondra for her many contributions, including the lasting impact she has had on our employees and our culture. Working alongside all of you and so many others, she has inspired countless cast members and employees to bring about lasting change and to help create a world where we can all feel safe and we all belong.
Latondra’s direct reports will report to Julie Merges on an interim basis until a new DEI leader is identified. I want to thank Julie for leading this team along with her Talent Acquisition organization. Additionally, Shelby Curry and the DEI Internal Communications team will continue reporting to Carrie Brown in her role leading internal communications & engagement for the company.
Thank you all for your continued contributions to our DEI efforts. I know we can count on you to keep this important work moving forward during this leadership transition.
Latondra Newton, architect of several of the woke policies adopted by Disney.
As chief diversity officer, Newton was responsible for overseeing some of the diversity and inclusion policies adopted by Disney in recent years. The company, on its website, says she performed her work "helping Disney and its employees around the world tell stories that entertain, enlighten and inspire." Not only that, she also made sure that everyone felt supported and represented:
Ms. Newton partners with various business segments and leaders across the enterprise to build on Disney’s commitment to produce entertainment that reflects a global audience and sustains a welcoming and inclusive workplace for everyone.
One of her most notable works was with Bob Iger and Bob Chapek after the death of George Floyd. The three issued a memorandum in May 2020 entitled "Resolve in the Time of Unrest" in which they asserted the following:
We resolve to use our compassion, our creative ideas and our collective sense of humanity to ensure we are fostering a culture that acknowledges our people’s feelings and their pain. We also realize that now more than ever is the time for us all to further strengthen our commitment to diversity and inclusion everywhere.
Following this, Disney began implementing woke policies and introducing LGBT characters in its audiovisual products. Initiatives that are not working as well as the entertainment giant had hoped. In fact, arecent example of the results of their input has been that Pixar's new film, "Elemental," became the worst opening in the company's history.
