Entertainment

Bob Chapek says Bob Iger schemed to push him out of Disney

Putri ArdhanaPublished 20m ago2 min readBased on 4 sources
Bob Chapek says Bob Iger schemed to push him out of Disney
Image by websubs from Pixabay

Bob Chapek says the man who chose him to run Disney then worked to push him out.

The claim sits at the centre of Chapek's memoir, Behind the Castle Walls, published by Simon & Schuster and set for release on Sept. 29. Chapek describes a "relentless three-year campaign to push me out" after Bob Iger appointed him chief executive, according to Variety.

Chapek took over as Disney chief executive in February 2020 as Iger's hand-picked successor. The board ousted him in November 2022 and brought Iger back to lead the company. Iger then stepped down in March and was replaced by former parks head Josh D'Amaro.

At the heart of Chapek's account is how the handover was structured. He writes that Iger remained as executive chairman, a role that kept him directing creative work and overseeing the transition, until late 2021. That long overlap left two centres of power inside one organisation. Chapek argues he never held full control.

The handover capped years of stop-start succession. Iger pushed back his retirement four times before announcing on Feb. 25, 2020 that he would step down as chief executive, according to CNBC. In November 2023, Iger said he would definitely leave when his contract ended in 2026, according to Reuters.

The memoir is arriving with a coordinated press rollout. Vanity Fair published an excerpt on Thursday. The Wall Street Journal published an interview with Chapek on Wednesday to promote the book. Journal reporter Robbie Whelan has his own account on the way, The House of Mouse: Bob Iger and The War of Succession at Disney, slated for release on Dec. 1, 2026.

Neither side is adding more for now. Disney declined to comment on Thursday. Iger declined to comment through a representative at Thrive Capital, the investment firm where he is now a partner.

For fans, this means the boardroom battle behind Mickey Mouse, Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar is back in full view. Disney is now led by D'Amaro. Iger has moved on to investment. Chapek gets the next word, in print, on Sept. 29.

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