A recent YouGov survey that tracks brand sentiment and awareness for Disney and its Disney+ streaming service reveals decline in positive perceptions across the political spectrum, marking the lowest levels in two years.
This comes amid ongoing controversies, including a public spat involving late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and conservative commentator Charlie Kirk over political commentary on ABC (a Disney-owned network), as well as broader criticisms of Disney's content decisions, price increases for Disney+, and perceived politicization of its brand.
The data shows Disney experiencing a "tank" in image among both Republicans and Democrats, with sentiment dropping sharply in recent months. This bipartisan erosion is significant because Disney has historically enjoyed broad appeal but has faced polarized backlash since 2022 over issues like its opposition to Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law and accusations of "woke" content from conservatives, followed by liberal discontent over perceived capitulations to political pressure (e.g., recent content moderation decisions influenced by Democratic figures).
Bipartisan Loss:
✔Among Republicans: Favorability has plummeted, with sentiment hitting a two-year low. This builds on long-standing conservative boycotts tied to content like remakes of classics (e.g., Snow White) seen as agenda-driven.
✔Among Democrats: There's also a sharp drop, attributed to frustrations over Disney's recent moves, such as bowing to pressure from Democratic leaders (e.g., California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former President Obama) on programming without clear business justification, leading to perceptions of inconsistency or censorship.
✔Among Democrats: There's also a sharp drop, attributed to frustrations over Disney's recent moves, such as bowing to pressure from Democratic leaders (e.g., California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former President Obama) on programming without clear business justification, leading to perceptions of inconsistency or censorship.
The poll indicates a roughly 10-15 percentage point decline in positive sentiment across both groups compared to mid-2025 benchmarks, per aggregated YouGov tracking data. This has contributed to real-world effects, like reduced viewership and box office underperformance.