Letter from Prof. Hanming Fang to Bob Iger, CEO of Disney

Dear Bob:

I am a professor of economics at the University of Pennsylvania. I am an ethnic Chinese. I came to the United States twenty years ago as a young man chasing the American dream, like our predecessors many generations ago. I am certain that you would agree with me that there should be no place for promoting racial and ethnic hatred in the media, and I am sure that you would hold any person or people responsible if they are engaged in such behavior to endanger the reputation of Disney. I am sure you understand that the reputation of Disney is its life line and protecting its reputation is your fiduciary duty to Disney shareholders as the CEO.

Now Jimmy Kimmel and the program directors at ABC did exactly that in a pre-recorded program to promote ethnic hatred. It is targeted toward Chinese, but it could have easily been targeted to any other minority group.

If you do not fire Mr. Kimmel, he will be forever linked to the image of Disney in the minds of millions of Chinese who live in the United States, and many many more in mainland China. I understand China is an important market you would like to expand into. I don’t think having the image of Mr. Kimmel and his racist baggage associated with Disney is a good idea.

Do the right thing and fire Mr. Kimmel. Only by taking this action would you be able to ensure that all employees in Disney would take it seriously to promote tolerance and love, not hatred.

I am also attaching a public letter that is being circulated in the internet in case you did not receive it yet.

Sincerely,
Hanming Fang