Los Angeles Times Banned From Seeing Advance Screenings of Upcoming Disney Films
Disney has banned Los Angeles Times from reviewing its new movies. The decision came on the heels of the huge publication's critical coverage of Walt Disney Company's relationship with the local government of Anaheim, California, which happens to be the home of Disneyland.
In a statement, the Los Angeles Times explained why their annual holiday movie preview did not include any Disney movie. "This year, Walt Disney Co. studios declined to offer The Times advance screenings, citing what it called unfair coverage of its business ties with Anaheim. The Times will continue to review and cover Disney movies and programs when they are available to the public," said the publication in its statement.
According to Los Angeles Times writer Glenn Whipp, the studio banned the paper from the advance screenings of its upcoming films like "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," in response to the paper's recent story about Disneyland's relationship with Anaheim. "Disney didn't like the Times' recent two-part story detailing Disneyland's business ties with the city of Anaheim," said Whipp on Twitter.
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While Disney did not specify how long the ban will take effect, Los Angeles Times will certainly not be able to attend the screenings for Disney's two highly-anticipated films, "Thor: Ragnarok" and "Star Wars: The Last Jedi." "Thor: Ragnarok" has just opened in theaters over the weekend while "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" will have its theatrical release on Dec. 15.
The story which got the paper banned from Disney previews was an article written in September, where the publication tackled the company-city relationship over a 10,241-space parking garage which Anaheim built and owns but leases to the studio for $1 dollar per year. The said article claimed that Disney receives all the revenue generated from the structure, which charges $20 dollars per vehicle to park and $35 dollars for a preferred spot near elevator access.
