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Conspiracy theories about Disney abound after Florida law controversy
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- Claims that Disney is using its resorts for mind control, human trafficking, ocult rituals and sexual deviancy don’t stand up under scrutiny.
Myths and conspiracy theories about Walt Disney and his namesake Disneyland have long abounded on the internet, but they’ve heated up recently since the Disney company’s chief executive criticized a Florida law that curbs classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity.
Among other claims about "Walt Disney the dark occultist" and "Disney’s magical Kingdom," a recent Facebook post said that "Disneyland estates have been used for MK-ULTRA mind control, human trafficking, occult rituals, and parading sexual deviants."
This post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
While Disney biographer Neal Gabler once said "the truth about Walt Disney seems much more complicated and nuanced than either his enemies or supporters would have you believe," we couldn’t find credible evidence that Disney is using its theme parks for MK-Ultra, a Cold War-era CIA mind control program, human trafficking, occult rituals, or sexual deviancy.
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In March, news broke that four Disney employees were among 108 people arrested in connection with an undercover human trafficking operation in Florida. One of those employees is accused of sending inappropriate pictures of himself and messages to an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl, and two others were charged with prostitution. But there was no indication these alleged crimes occurred at Disney resorts.
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We’ve previously fact-checked and found false the claim that Disney CEO Bob Chapek was arrested for human trafficking.
Under scrutiny, these theories are just that. We rate this post False.
Our Sources
Facebook post, April 26, 2022
Insider, 9 conspiracy theories about Walt Disney that have been proven false, Oct. 1, 2021
The New York Times, What We Know About the DeSantis-Disney Rift, April 24, 2022
The Daily Beast, The Real Walt Disney, Not the ‘Saving Mr. Banks’ Version, Dec. 14, 2013
BBC, MK-Ultra: The CIA's secret pursuit of 'mind control,’ March 29, 2022
CBS Miami, Massive Florida Sex Sting, More Than 100 Arrested Including Three Disney Employees, March 19, 2022
CBS News, Disney employees and former judge among 108 arrested in human trafficking sting, Florida police say, March 17, 2022
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Conspiracy theories about Disney abound after Florida law controversy
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