Disney-sponsored NBA team donates $50K to GOP candidate’s PAC, raising eyebrows.

Politics and Basketball Collide: NBA Team Sponsored by Disney Donates $50K⁣ to GOP Candidate’s​ PAC

Politics can create some unexpected connections and degrees ⁣of separation. The latest example of this comes from an unlikely source – the NBA’s Orlando Magic franchise.

The Magic, often seen as the ⁣”little brother” of Florida’s NBA teams, has become the center of a strange and tangible connection between the Walt Disney Company and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

How did this happen? It all started with a political donation. ‍The Orlando Magic appears to be the first⁣ NBA team ever to back ⁤a presidential candidate, contributing $50,000 to Ron DeSantis’s Super PAC. When asked for clarification, the team’s ​spokesperson declined to comment‍ publicly on political contributions.

Orlando Magic appear to be the first NBA team… ever? to back ‌a presidential candidate: $50k to Ron DeSantis’s Super PAC

I asked spox to clarify if donation should instead be attributed to owner Richard DeVos; response was “we don’t ⁣comment publicly on political contributions” pic.twitter.com/9B5yuvIUF3

—⁣ Alex Shultz (@AlexShultz) August ⁤1, 2023

This revelation ​has sparked controversy, as it is unusual for an organization‍ to not distance‌ itself from a ⁤political donation. Political contributions from team owners, especially⁤ conservatives, are not new. However, it is surprising that the Magic did not take the opportunity to distance themselves from⁢ the DeSantis donation.

team owners dumping money⁢ on presidential candidates (especially conservatives) is not new; in this case, it’s very ⁣odd that, when given the opportunity, the organization isn’t distancing itself from ⁢the DeSantis donation

— Alex Shultz (@AlexShultz) August​ 1, 2023

So, the Orlando Magic’s donation has directly linked the team and owner Richard DeVos to Ron DeSantis. On the other hand, Disney has⁢ a longstanding connection with the Magic through the NBA’s Community Sponsorship program. This partnership includes various corporate agreements and features Disney’s logo​ on Magic jerseys.

It’s worth noting that DeSantis and Disney have been engaged in a bitter feud due to the company’s opposition to the governor’s past ⁤legislation. However, Team DeSantis recently secured a significant legal victory that could impact Disney’s⁣ countermeasures.

Thanks to ⁣the Magic, the two entities ⁣are now linked in a way that goes beyond their rivalry. This revelation has triggered an uproar from players, ​prompting ⁣the NBA Players‍ Association ⁢to release a scathing statement. They find it alarming that the Magic made a‌ political ‌contribution given the recent comments and policies of its beneficiary. The statement emphasizes that individual players and​ personnel have the right to express their political views, but when contributions are made on behalf of the entire team, the diverse values and perspectives of staff and players⁤ should be considered.

A statement from the NBPA ‌on the‍ Orlando Magic’s recent political donations.

Official statement: https://t.co/6fmRZCxVzG pic.twitter.com/JQEk0V4Ztl

— NBPA (@TheNBPA) August‍ 3, 2023

The Magic’s ‌donation does not represent player support for the recipient,⁤ according to the NBPA’s statement.

It’s clear that politics and basketball have collided in a surprising way, creating⁤ a web of connections and controversy. The NBA team sponsored‍ by Disney has​ made a significant donation to a ⁢GOP candidate’s PAC, leaving ​many questioning the motivations and implications of this decision.

The post NBA ⁣Team Sponsored by Disney Donates $50K to GOP Candidate’s PAC: ‘Very Odd’ appeared first on The Western Journal.

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