Dana Walden, Disney's head honcho, denies any impact of her friendship with Kamala Harris on the debate.
Walden stated outside the Emmy Awards, "I don't want to give it much of a response."
On Sunday, Disney executive Dana Walden rejected allegations that her close relationship with Vice President Kamala Harris influenced the biased outcome of the ABC Presidential Debate.
Walden, a senior Disney executive who oversees ABC News, is one of Harris' "extraordinary friends," as per a report in the New York Times. Walden and Harris have been friends since 1994, while their husbands, Matt Walden and Doug Emhoff, have known each other since the 1980s.
Following the debate last week, where former President Trump was repeatedly fact-checked while Harris remained unchecked, ABC has been under scrutiny. During the Emmy Awards, Walden was questioned by a Variety reporter about attacks from the "far-right" who claimed her close friendship with Harris influenced the debate.
Walden stated, "I don't want to give it much of a response, as I don't want to dignify it."
"I highly respect everyone at ABC News. It is the most professional and skilled organization with top-notch journalists," she said. "It doesn't warrant much of a reply."
The moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis did not correct Trump during their five fact-checks, despite the opportunity to do so. Hugh Hewitt, a conservative radio host, believes that the journalistic reputations of Muir and Davis have been damaged by the fiasco. However, the damage will also affect the ABC and Disney brands because the moderators did not ask critical questions of Harris.
On "The Brent Bozell Show" podcast, Brent Bozell, founder of the Media Research Center, stated that Harris had a clear advantage due to ABC's evening newscast being more "positive towards Harris and the most hostile to Trump" compared to evening newscasts on NBC and CBS.
Bozell stated on Wednesday that whoever suggested Trump participate in an ABC debate should be fired, as it was the worst decision possible. He was discussing his views on the network's biases.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, along with Muir and Davis, wrote a letter to ABC News president Almin Karamehmedovic, requesting a correction for a "100% inaccurate" abortion claim made during a debate on Trump.
Since at least 2003, Walden has contributed to Harris' political campaigns and donated to numerous Democrats.
The Puck report described Walden as a "Hollywood winner" in the rapid ascension of Harris to de facto Democratic nominee last month. Despite having extensive ties to the entertainment community, few have a relationship with Harris as deep and influential as Walden does at Disney.
According to the New York Times, Walden, Disney's top TV executive, does not have a say in editorial decisions.
Reports suggest that Walden, who is among the insider candidates to become the next Disney CEO after Bob Iger's contract ends in 2026, may benefit from her close relationship with a potential future president.
Planet Chronicle Digital's Kendall Tietz contributed to this report.
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