Some beloved brands attract such a passionate following that they can justify specialty publications and websites dedicated to news and information about the companies behind them. Disney is one that has a few, one of which is called Pirates & Princesses (which also reports on a few other entertainment companies).
Following the news and social media debacle surrounding Cracker Barrel‘s woke rebranding of its logo and sponsorship of LGBT initiatives like “Pride” parades, P&P writer Ivy Adams assessed Disney’s current epiphany that it has ruined its once-valuable intellectual property like Star Wars and Marvel by emphasizing the feminization of their protagonists. She reports, and then wonders:
According to recent leaks and industry reports, the House of Mouse has realized it’s alienated a key demographic—Gen Z men aged 13-28—who once flocked to lightsabers and superhero showdowns but now feel sidelined by what some critics call “girl boss” narratives.
This pivot comes amid box office slumps and streaming struggles, begging the question: Could Disney avoid a total meltdown by studying the fresh wounds of Cracker Barrel’s botched rebrand?
Disney’s performance, with its stock price and otherwise, has been in the doldrums for years. NLPC has warned the company for years via its shareholder activism that its infusion of leftist political priorities in its programming and parks was driving normal American families away. Adams adds:
What makes Cracker Barrel’s fiasco particularly relevant to Disney is the ignored warnings from within. Top investor Sardar Biglari, who holds a significant stake, had publicly lambasted the rebrand as “obvious folly” in 2024 via his dedicated critique site.
He argued that tampering with the brand’s nostalgic, family-oriented identity would alienate core customers without guaranteeing new ones. Biglari’s predictions proved prophetic: The stock dipped 7% amid the uproar, forcing Cracker Barrel to scrap the new logo, keep the iconic “Old Timer” rocking chair figure, and issue a mea culpa about “listening to customers.”
Sounds very similar to the response that activist investor Nelson Peltz received from Disney CEO Bob Iger (pictured above) and the company’s insular board when he tried to call attention to the damage being inflicted upon its valuable heritage and properties.
Adams points out several examples where Disney flopped in its attempts to modernize and capitulate to woke priorities, which only served to alienate many loyal fans. Her entire analysis is worth a read, with her caution summarized by this: “Ignore your core at your peril.”
For those with the time, Sardar Biglari’s warning to Cracker Barrel from nearly a year ago is also worth a read.
