Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek is about to publish a new memoir, in which he blames recently retired CEO Bob Iger for his firing.
Bob Chapek ©Disney
Back in 2022, Bob Chapek was fired as Disney’s chief executive after less than three years in the job. Bob Iger, who preceded Bob Chapek as CEO, then came back as the company’s chief executive after Chapek was fired. A lot happened during Chapek’s time as CEO, some of which was beyond his control, like COVID-19, while other missteps were in his control. However, there’s one thing he points his finger at.
According to The New York Times, Chapek’s memoir is set to be published Tuesday by Gallery Books, in which he rejects any personal responsibility for his ouster. In fact, he “places all blame on a ‘relentless’ sabotage campaign by the man who handpicked him for the job, his predecessor and eventual successor, Robert A. Iger.”
Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek ©Disney
Before its publication, a copy of “Behind the Castle Walls: My Thirty Years at the Happiest Place on Earth” was obtained by The New York Times. In this book, Bob Chapek re-establishes himself as a leader. According to The New York Times, he embraces the mantle of “disrupter,” invoking the word or versions of it 30 times across 254 pages. Chapek also seeks to cement his place in Disney history, saying that his legacy wasn’t memorialized in a positive way.
“My abrupt dismissal hurt my reputation, leaving those close to me, outsiders, and some within the kingdom trying to figure out what I did wrong,” Mr. Chapek writes. “The answer, again, is nothing.”
©Disney
In his memoir, Chapek claimed that Iger played “an intentional and preconceived role in abruptly ending my ride as Disney C.E.O.” Chapek says Iger “disparaged him in private conversations, telling Hollywood power brokers and loyalists in the Disney ranks that he had shut Mr. Iger out and questioning his judgment over pandemic-era movie releases.”
“I didn’t get a chance to finish what I started,” Mr. Chapek writes. “In truth, it pisses me off.”
©Disney || Bob Chapek
Bob Chapek also claimed something controversial about Bob Iger’s sudden and abrupt stepping down as CEO. “I have been told by several high-ranking people both in government and private business that, in their opinions, the real reason he left the company so abruptly was his anticipation of the arrival of COVID,” Chapek writes. He had no evidence, but he suggested that Bob Iger believed he could come back and reclaim the CEO role at any time.
©Disney
During Bob Chapek’s time with the company, he faced criticism regarding his drive for higher revenue. Annual Passes, park tickets, and food prices skyrocketed. Things that used to be free, like FastPass and Magical Express, were now being charged for. Chapek doesn’t believe that was an issue, and still stands by it, saying it reduced crowds and increased guest satisfaction.
Bob Chapek ©Disney
That’s not all, as Bob Chapek also takes credit for Disney’s newest and current CEO, Josh D’Amaro. “I consistently suggested the idea of promoting him,” Mr. Chapek writes. “He had been a relative unknown in the corporate hierarchy before I singled him out.” That being said, a spokesman for D’Amaro declined to comment.
Bob Chapek at the Rise of the Resistance’s Dedication Ceremony
We’ll keep you updated on the situation and if Iger or any spokespeople decide to comment. For all the latest Disney news and updates, make sure to follow us at the Disney Food Blog.
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What a narcissist, this guy. All of the things that used to be free and all the price hikes were not ok, how can he say that with a straight face?? And Josh D’Amaro we knew about 10+ years ago.
Thank God he’s gone. Worst CEO ever.
He was terrible at the job and opportunity he had, so he was let go. Now he is playing the victim card and blaming others for his failures. Bitter much?
Sorry Bob, but you were responsible for harming people of color and those of the LGBTQ family. Yes, you had no control over COVID but taking away so many things that made the park special, by charging for them took away many families vacations.
You were a good fit until you weren’t.
Chapek pretty much confirmed here why he failed in the role as all he is doing is finger pointing and fails to see that pretty much everything he touched during his short time in the role became a mess. You can blame him entirely for what occurred with Reedy Creek. The man has as much charisma as a piece of drywall. When you look at the list of Disney leaders going all the way back to Walt, those who were successful had charisma. Chapek was agonizing just to see him speak. Speak to any Cast Member and few liked him with most celebrating the return of Iger. Chapek earned his spot as what will likely go down as the worst CEO in the company’s history.
Just goes to show, sometimes you can fire bad people in positions of power…not always, but sometimes.
IDK blaming Chapek for raising prices is the last place anyone should go! Disney raises prices consistently, before him and it continues the day. Priced most families out (and other families from going frequently),a very long time ago!
Boo-hoo, Mr. Chapek, it was you that CLOSED all the Disney Stores everywhere. Hundreds of Cast Members lost their wonderful jobs because of you, and you walked away with millions from Disney. Shame on you. A former Cast Member.
I agree in all the comments about Chapek , but did the board do anything to
bring back the magic back to the magic kingdom. If they didn’t like what he was doing why did they vote to approve what he wanted? We all know it’s all about money. My wife and I used to visit Walt Disney about a month every year. We were annual pass holders for over 20 years but that stopped when you charged us more for the pass because we like out of state. Was that a Chapek decision also, If so why not reverse it?