Amid massive layoffs and restructuring, Disney is cleaning house. Heads have been rolling at the Walt Disney Company since November with the sudden (and not entirely unwelcome) firing of former CEO Bob Chapek. No one knows who will be next on the chopping block as Disney looks to trim the fat.
Related: Heads Continue to Roll at Disney
One recently ousted exec, former President of Physical and Post Production, Visual Effects, and Animation of Marcel Studios Victoria Alonso, isn’t going to take her firing lightly. In fact, she’s got a lot to say about it and intends to say it in court. The Oscar-nominated producer has lawyered up and, according to Deadline, has retained the services of Patty Glaser. Law Dragon refers to Glaser as “Quite simply the go-to litigator in Los Angeles for business litigation and other high-profile cases.”
Glaser, a senior partner at Glaser Weil Fink Howard Avchen & Shapiro LLP, has experience tangling with Disney and is currently suing the House of Mouse over the firing of Karyn McCarthy from Star Wars TV series The Acolyte.
Alonso and her attorney claim she was fired due to her Amazon Studios produced film Argentina, 1985, stating that Disney viewed her work for competing ? as a breach of contract despite giving their blessing to pursue the project. This isn’t the first time the Marvel executive has been under the microscope with the higher-ups at Disney- she was one of the vices that led the charge against Bob Chapek’s handling of the so-called “Don’t Say Gay Bill.” Glaser released a public statement on Alonso’s behalf saying,
“The idea that Victoria was fired over a handful of press interviews relating to a personal passion project about human rights and democracy that was nominated for an Oscar and which she got Disney’s blessing to work on is absolutely ridiculous. Victoria, a gay Latina who had the courage to criticize Disney, was silenced. Then she was terminated when she refused to do something she believed was reprehensible. Disney and Marvel made a really poor decision that will have serious consequences. There is a lot more to this story and Victoria will be telling it shortly—in one forum or another.”
It is unclear at this time what the lawyer claims was so reprehensible to Alonso. It is assumed that detail will be revealed during litigation. Alonso has claimed Disney and Marvel have tried to silence her in the past, even going so far as to forbid her from speaking to the press.
Related: Layoffs to Happen in Several Rounda. Big one Touted as “Blood Bath”
Disney has fired back with a statement of their own, following Alonso’s exit, saying, “It’s unfortunate that Victoria is sharing a narrative that leaves out several key factors concerning her departure, including an indisputable breach of contract and a direct violation of company policy. We will continue to wish her the best for the future and thank her for her numerous contributions to the studio.”
Related: More Layoffs Coming as Disney Outs Chapek-Era to an End
This ongoing battle seems to be only just heating up. Stay tuned right here as we bring you the latest in what is likely to be a salacious fight between the former executive and the Power House studio.