As the state of Florida continues to suffer from a surge in COVID-19 cases, the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando recently held an event that has garnered controversy and backlash. The event in question was a fundraiser for Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been heavily criticized for his handling of the pandemic.
The event, which took place on Saturday, April 10th, was hosted by the Republican Party of Florida at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Attendees were charged $25,000 per couple for the opportunity to mingle with DeSantis and other high-profile Republican politicians.
However, the event has been criticized for disregarding basic health and safety guidelines. Photos from the event show that most attendees were not wearing masks or practicing social distancing, despite the fact that Florida has reported over 2 million COVID-19 cases and more than 32,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Many Floridians and Americans took to social media to express their outrage over the event. Some pointed out the hypocrisy of hosting a gathering that violates basic health and safety protocols at a time when the state is struggling to control the spread of the virus. Others criticized DeSantis for prioritizing politics over public health.
But the event also sent a message to DeSantis that was impossible to ignore. During the event, a group of Disney World employees held up signs that read “COVID-19 killed my colleague” and “DeSantis death sentence on Florida.” This demonstration was a clear indication that many people in Florida hold the governor responsible for the state’s high COVID-19 numbers and the deaths that have resulted from his policies.
As of the time of writing, neither DeSantis nor Disney World have issued a response to the controversy surrounding the event. However, it is clear that the fundraiser has sparked a debate about the priorities of Florida’s leadership and the role of corporations like Disney World in shaping political discourse.
The situation is also a reminder that the pandemic is far from over, and that individual actions can have a significant impact on the health and safety of the wider community. As vaccines become more widely available, it is important to continue to follow best practices and guidelines to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. And as summer approaches, it remains to be seen how events like the Disney World fundraiser will affect the state’s efforts to quell the pandemic.
