Bob Iger Says Top Democrat Urged Him to Run for U.S. President Because ‘You Look the Part’: ‘Give Me a Break’

As a seasoned movie critic with a penchant for delving into the lives of the industry’s most influential figures, I find myself captivated by the enigmatic Bob Iger. His latest revelation about a mysterious Democratic figure encouraging him to run for president is reminiscent of a Hollywood script where power and ambition intertwine in unexpected ways.

For quite some time, discussions about Bob Iger running for U.S. presidency have been prevalent – to the point that media personality Oprah Winfrey openly supported his potential presidential campaign in 2020 as Disney’s CEO.

As a film critic, I found myself intrigued by Robert Iger’s recent disclosure that an influential figure within the Democratic party once suggested he should run for president. During his appearance on Wednesday’s episode of “Let’s Talk Off Camera With Kelly Ripa” podcast on SiriusXM, Iger shared this anecdote, stating, “He proposed, ‘You should run for president,’ to which I replied, ‘Enlighten me as to why?'” The head of Disney then recounted the individual’s initial response: “His first words were, ‘Well, you really fit the bill.'” However, Iger quickly retorted, “That’s not enough.”

Iger refused to reveal the identity of the politician who made the comment, but clarified to Ripa that it wasn’t former President Bill Clinton. He stated, “I have never had a conversation about running for president with Bill Clinton.”

Ripa, one of the hosts on the syndicated talk show “Live! with Kelly and Mark,” asked Iger if his wife, Willow Bay, was okay with him running for president. Iger replied that while it might be an overstatement to say she was “on board,” she wasn’t against it either. Ripa then jokingly wondered if this meant Iger wasn’t threatening divorce, to which Iger responded that when he married Willow, he made vows for better or worse, and running for president could potentially make things financially tougher. However, he emphasized that she felt a responsibility to support his dreams, even if she wasn’t fully on board with the idea.

In the podcast discussion, Iger emphasized that he is actively and immediately searching for a new CEO to replace him at Disney. He initially stepped down from his role as CEO in early 2020, but returned following Bob Chapek’s dismissal. Iger’s contract with Disney has been renewed and will expire by the end of 2026.

“It’s clear that this topic consumes a significant part of my thoughts. In fact, I might be described as deeply invested in it, though that may not fully capture my level of dedication. Upon my return, my team and I agreed that addressing this matter was one of our most pressing concerns, if not the top priority. To put it simply, I’m extremely dedicated to it, not just because of its past importance, but because I aim to pass the reins to capable hands, which is my ultimate goal. I’m now more confident than ever that we can achieve this goal in a way that benefits both the company and me.”

The Disney Board is rumored to be evaluating potential CEO candidates from within the company, and these include the four division leaders: Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, who co-head Disney Entertainment; Jimmy Pitaro, who runs ESPN; and Josh D’Amaro, who oversees Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products.

Simultaneously, Iger shared with Ripa that he had been quite immersed in the creation of the “Get Back” documentary by director Peter Jackson. In fact, Disney+ secured the streaming rights for this Beatles project.

“We had a screening at my house and Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney came along with Olivia Harrison, George Harrison’s wife, and we had a dinner at the house after we all watched a few hours of it and I had to give a toast and I looked around the table and there’s Ringo and Paul,” Iger said. “Now, don’t forget, 1964, the Beatles come to the United States. I’m 13 years old. We talked about musical taste. I mean, that was it, and there they are in my house and my toast was, ‘In my life, I’ve had many pinch-me moments and I try never to take them for granted and tonight is a real pinch me moment for me.’ And I think Paul or Ringo, I can’t remember which one, got up and said, “This is a pinch-me moment for us too, interestingly enough. All of us together, watching that.’”

Iger shared with Ripa that he was among just two individuals, including renowned composer John Williams, who were honored with knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II prior to her passing.

In June 2022, I received a call from Buckingham Palace in the U.K., informing me that I was to be bestowed with the title of Honorary Knight of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II, alongside one other individual, John Williams. As shared by Iger, we were both apprised of this honor. Following Queen Elizabeth’s passing in September, Iger expressed his thoughts, saying, “I pondered, ‘Well, it seems my knighthood has been revoked.'”

The ceremony did eventually take place last month at Windsor Castle. Said Ripa: “Wait, so are you ‘Sir Bob Iger’?” He responded that he isn’t because his designation is as an honorary Knight of the British Empire. “But I’m still gonna call you ‘Sir Bob,’” Ripa quipped.

Listen to the episode of “Let’s Talk Off Camera With Kelly Ripa” with Iger:

https://open.spotify.com/watch?v=episode/2qhHZVfuEsckc7FBmpFVci

2024-08-21 18:47

Bob Iger Says Top Democrat Urged Him to Run for U.S. President Because ‘You Look the Part’: ‘Give Me a Break’

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