Lantos Foundation President Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett has written the following open letter to Robert Chapek, CEO of the Walt Disney Company, in response to Disney’s shameful decision to publicly thank Xinjiang Province officials in the credits of the film Mulan :
Dear Mr. Chapek,
The story of Mulan, as you well know, inspires us with its message that one person, no matter how insignificant or unlikely a hero, can be a powerful force for good. For a small human rights organization with limited resources, that message certainly resonates. However, the Walt Disney Company’s decision to publicly thank Xinjiang Province officials in China also sends a powerful message – that human rights are of little consequence or concern to your company.
One could easily question Disney’s decision to film Mulan in a region that is well-documented as being the site of genocidal crimes and the largest incarceration of an innocent population since the dark days of World War II. That choice, alone, indicates a willingness to turn a blind eye to the plight of the Uyghur community in Xinjiang. However, it is even more galling that Disney would go so far as to specifically extend a special thanks in the credits of the film to the very individuals and organizations that have perpetrated the rampant human rights abuses in Xinjiang. A few short lines in the credits of a feature film may not seem of great consequence at first glance. But these lines provide a false cloak of legitimacy to organizations that deserve reproach and sanction, much more than they deserve any form of gratitude or praise.
The legendary character of Mulan stood up to her foes, despite her lack of power or influence. The Walt Disney Company has both, in spades. But instead of using your power and vast resources to be a force for good, your decisions have – unwittingly or not – legitimized some of the greatest human rights abusers of our time. No amount of happy endings on the big screen can compensate for this moral failure.
We call on you to immediately edit the credits in Mulan to remove all references to human rights abusers in Xinjiang province. However, at a time when many corporations are stepping up and openly recognizing their failure to adequately take a stand for social justice and human rights, a leading corporation like Disney must do more than simply correct a terrible error in judgment. You must go a step further. We urge you in the strongest terms to donate a significant portion of the profits from Mulan to any of the numerous groups advocating on behalf of and working to improve the conditions of the oppressed Uyghurs of Xinjiang. This would represent at least a small step to repairing the damage done by your apparent disregard for upholding and respecting human rights.
The next and most important step will be to look inward and carefully consider whether Disney is willing to put aside human rights in the pursuit of profits. The stories you tell may delight and inspire, but they are, after all, only stories. The choices you make and the example you set as a corporate leader will be your lasting legacy, more so than the tales you spin on the silver screen.
Sincerely,
Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett
President