Why Ike Perlmutter Left Disney

Ike Perlmutter, the former chairman of Marvel Entertainment, recently made headlines after selling his stock in Disney. This move was praised by Donald Trump, who commented on Perlmutter's decision to leave the company. Trump suggested that Perlmutter, who once went from being broke to owning a significant stake in Disney, decided to sell his shares because the company had adopted what he termed as "woke" policies. Perlmutter was ousted from Disney in 2023 by CEO Bob Iger, who integrated Marvel Entertainment into other units of the company to cut costs. This decision led to significant job cuts, including 7, 000 positions. Perlmutter's role had been diminishing over the years, with his oversight limited to smaller business areas like comics publishing. Trump's comments sparked a discussion about Disney's alleged "woke" agenda, which has been criticized by some for pushing certain social or political views. Perlmutter, known for his independent spirit and clashes with higher-ups, had previously pushed for changes within Disney, including the appointment of an activist investor to the board. Despite not being directly involved in Marvel movies since 2015, Perlmutter played a crucial role in expanding Disney's merchandising business. His departure from Disney signals a significant shift in the company's leadership and direction.