Former Marvel Entertainment Chairman Ike Perlmutter Speaks Out: "Disney Fired Me"

Former Marvel Entertainment Chairman Ike Perlmutter Speaks Out: "Disney Fired Me"

We recently learned that controversial (former) chairman of Marvel Entertainment, Ike Perlmutter, had been released from his position at the company, and the exec has now responded...

By MarkCassidy - Apr 06, 2023 08:04 AM EST
Filed Under: Marvel Studios

Isaac "Ike" Perlmutter, controversial (former) chairman of the now dissolved Marvel Entertainment, was recently removed from his position at the company.

Perlmutter's clashes with the likes of Bob Iger and Kevin Feige are well documented, and in a rare interview with the Wall Street Journal, the 80-year-old exec explained why he believes he was let go.

“All they talk about is box office, box office,” he tells the site. “I care about the bottom line. I don’t care how big the box office is. Only people in Hollywood talk about box office.”

Perlmutter, who confirms that he was "fired" and not simply "laid off," is certain that his termination was based on "fundamental differences in business between my thinking and Disney leadership, because I care about return on investment.”

It's worth pointing out that The Marvel Cinematic Universe is without question the most profitable film franchise in history, even if they did have to spend a lot of money to achieve such massive success. 

Ike was also reportedly unhappy about Disney's spat with Governor Ron DeSantis over Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act which prohibits classroom instruction regarding sexuality or gender identity in Florida's public schools from kindergarten through third grade.

Perlmutter says he warned the higher-ups not to "get involved in politics. You're going to get hurt. It's a no-win situation."

How do you feel about Perlmutter being ousted? Drop us a comment down below.

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SATW42
SATW42 - 4/6/2023, 8:41 AM
Ike didn't want them to get involved in politics because he's a Trump guy. If they came out in defense of DeSantis he wouldn't have said a [frick]ing word.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 4/6/2023, 9:39 AM
@SATW42 - This is probably true. Having said that, what he said is also probably true. When you get involved with these kinds of things you are picking a side. And no matter what side you pick, you are losing the other side.

But, to your point, his reasons for saying this are probably not genuine, because like you said, if Disney had taken Desantis' side, I'm willing to bet he wouldn't be saying this.
Matchesz
Matchesz - 4/6/2023, 10:41 AM
@SATW42 - i’m neither a Trump nor a Biden guy, but the masses are seriously and helplessly brainwashed to hate Trump. People hate him so much like he personally spat in their cereal. This country is really fcking weird….
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 4/6/2023, 10:42 AM
@SATW42 - Its true though, keep your hands off politics. If LGBQT is going to make you lose money...why bother supporting it? Let others deal with it and reap the benefits later. No 1 gives a shit if your political onscreen or not as long as you deliver a good movie.

Its obvious disney is already losing mad money trying to be political and please a loud voice generated by twitter bots and influencers who are just trying to get subs.
Vigor
Vigor - 4/6/2023, 10:52 AM
@Matchesz - he metaphorically HAS spat in my cereal. He represents everything I live my life actively fighting against. I'm not saying he's the spawn of Satan. But I believe in having morals and I draw a fine line with certain individuals.

People have to stand up for something
Rmcbride7349
Rmcbride7349 - 4/6/2023, 10:52 AM
@Matchesz - It's pretty simple for me, anyone who has regular meetings with white supremacists is a bad. You can't defend that guy without defending everything he's ever done so don't try.
Vigor
Vigor - 4/6/2023, 10:53 AM
@mastakilla39 - LGBT is not political
nhoj3
nhoj3 - 4/6/2023, 11:40 AM
@Matchesz - Logistically it would be impossible for him to personally spit in everyone's bowl of cereal, but you know what he HAS done to everyone?

- Undermined their faith in democratic institutions
- Undermined their faith in the judicial system
- Undermined their faith in journalism
- Undermined their faith in the constitution
- Normalized abhorrent behaviour in their leaders

When you do all of these things to an American, you're doing far worse than spitting in their cereal, so yeah... I get the hate.
SATW42
SATW42 - 4/6/2023, 11:41 AM
@Matchesz - I said what I said because it was fact. He is firmly a Trump guy. He's a member of Mar-a-Lago and was not so secretly an advisor of Trump regarding the VA. I could have said "republican" but when it comes to Ike, he is actually a "Trump guy" it wasn't me stating an opinion, just a fact.

The opinion was his reasoning behind not wanting Disney to speak out against DeSantis, but knowing his history, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't say anything if he agreed with Disney's stance.
SATW42
SATW42 - 4/6/2023, 11:47 AM
@mastakilla39 - Disney reported an 8% gain in revenue for Quarter 1 of the 2023 fiscal year. I just don't understand this narrative that Disney is "losing mad money"

It seems to me that the only people who think they are losing mad money are a small but loud voice generated by twitter bots and influencers looking for subs, but not the ones you think, ones like the quartering.
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 4/6/2023, 12:07 PM
@SATW42 - No, they reported 34% box office revenue loss ever since and their D+ subs retention rate is less than 40% and they missed their target of 20% gains per year. They are losing money in their media output due to their political agenda on films and Florida stance. Only thing making money is their amusement park because they are overcharging families which Bob Iger admitted recently.

@Vigor - Agree, LGBQT is not political. Them going against Florida's stance on banning topics about it are. A company is supposed to be "neutral" and not take any sides.
SATW42
SATW42 - 4/6/2023, 12:12 PM
@mastakilla39 - A company is supposed to be neutral? Says who? I'll tell you who says the opposite of that, the Supreme Court. Corporations are people, remember?
HeraldNumber7
HeraldNumber7 - 4/6/2023, 12:15 PM
@nhoj3 -

placing all of that at the feet of Trump instead of recognizing the century-long degradation and controlled demolition of our institutions by corrupt actors (on both sides of the isle) is absolutely ridiculous and exactly the point @Matchesz is making. smh.
HulkisHoly
HulkisHoly - 4/6/2023, 12:17 PM
@Rmcbride7349 -

What white supremacists has he met with? I haven’t heard that. I mean, you don’t care that Biden have a eulogy a few years ago for a dear friend who was a grandmaster in the KKK?
I haven’t seen any ties from trump to the clan.

Seems like you have it backwards.
HulkisHoly
HulkisHoly - 4/6/2023, 12:29 PM
@nhoj3 -

This is where I’m confused. I’m not sure what actual things trump has done…but Biden I see clear evidence for…

- he called a group of military men and women “dumb bastards”
- he passed a low to forbid journalists from getting anymore footage at the border so the American people can’t see what’s going on- that’s completely anti constitutional (freedom of the press)
- he has kicked the press out and only answers pre scripted questions (is the US China now?)
- he got his son a 7 figure job at an Ukraine energy company of which he had no prior experience or schooling in and then used all that money on hookers and pounds of coke. Where’s the trial?
- it’s essentially proven of his money laundering

And I don’t know if you actually watched the entire speech trump gave on Jan 6 like I did but he never ever said to storm the capital or be violent. Most people just believe what other stations SAID he said but didn’t say it. I watched the whole hour plus and never heard it. In fact he said to peacefully and lawfully make their voices heard, specifically.

Second, now that the footage has come out of police officers at the capital escorting the shaman guy into the and through the building, without any weapons or force, people are waking up to how much of this Jan 6 nonsense was a farce. The cop who killed that lady vet should have been charged and his force was completely unnecessary as she was even unarmed!

I’m not a trump fan, but I’m DEFINITELY not a fan of being lied to and that’s exactly what’s been happening in the US media for the last 20 years, steadily getting worse and worse thanks to their CEO’s essentially being the same people who own the pharmaceutical companies and vice versa.
HeraldNumber7
HeraldNumber7 - 4/6/2023, 12:33 PM
@HulkisHoly -

🎯🎯🎯
nhoj3
nhoj3 - 4/6/2023, 12:39 PM
@HeraldNumber7 - You can shake your head all you like, but you're being disingenuous in your comments.

Yes, there are corrupt actors on both sides, but no one person has done more to undermine those institutions than Donald J. Trump:

- Undermined their faith in democratic institutions (“The only way we’re going to lose this election is if the election is rigged, remember that” , discrediting and undermining US intelligence agencies and saying that he believes Putin more, etc.)

- Undermined their faith in the judicial system (“The Radical Left Lunatics, Maniacs, and Perverts had me Indicted and ARRESTED for no reason whatsoever”)

- Undermined their faith in journalism ("Fake news!")

- Undermined their faith in the constitution ("A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution")

- Normalized abhorrent behaviour in their leaders (too many to list here, "grab her by the pussy", calling for the incarceration of his political opponents, yet claiming "witch hunt" when it happens to him, etc.)

I don't expect you to agree with me, and I'm sure that you'll insist on the last word, so go ahead... fill your boots.
HeraldNumber7
HeraldNumber7 - 4/6/2023, 12:45 PM
@nhoj3 -

false. George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and their administration did exponentially more to undermine everything you listed here. that Americans have such a short memory and no curiosity as to how we even got TO Trump as a vaible leader speaks to exactly why we are screwed.

but sure, enjoy your hate boner for the scapegoat
nhoj3
nhoj3 - 4/6/2023, 1:09 PM
@HulkisHoly - I don't have time to debunk EVERYTHING you've posted, so I'll have to settle for just your first point: "he called a group of military men and women “dumb bastards”"

I hadn't heard of this, so I had to do a little research. I found the clip and watched it. Biden said this as Vice-President while giving a speech to U.S. Military personnel on March 7, 2016 at a military base in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Here is what he said leading up to that quote:

"I've been doing this job for a while, and everywhere I go I see warriors like all of you before me and behind me here, (turning to the solders behind him) excuse my back folks... I've been in and out of the Balkans 25 times, in and out of Iraq 26 times, in and out of Afghanistan 10 or 12 times, and I have one regret every time I'm with you all and I mean it sincerely, is the folks back home can't see, can't see it in play, don't get to fly on missions with you, don't understand - they appreciate - but they don't fully understand the incredible sacrifices you make for our country.

And I'd like you to know, notwithstanding what you may have heard about me, I have incredibly good judgment:

One, I married Jill (referring to his wife standing near him).
And two, I appointed Johnsons to the Academy (referring to Delaware lieutenant Carrie Johnson who had introduced him to stage moments before), I just want you to know that... (no reaction from the audience)

So clap for that you stupid bastards! C'mon man!

(following the prompted applause)

(laughing) God, you’re a dull bunch. You must be slow here, man."

It's pretty obvious to anyone willing to look at the full context that he has great respect for the military, and that this was at best a questionable joke.

If you truly don't like being lied to, then maybe stop presenting "half facts" to everyone else and expecting us to believe them.
nhoj3
nhoj3 - 4/6/2023, 1:26 PM
@HeraldNumber7 - Would you be so kind as to provide some concrete examples rather than just asserting your summary opinion? I'm open to learning...
SATW42
SATW42 - 4/6/2023, 1:27 PM
@HulkisHoly - "What white supremacists has he met with?"

Nick Fuentes. It's not like it was even a secret. It's not my job to do research for you though so just google Nick Fuentes and Trump.
HulkisHoly
HulkisHoly - 4/6/2023, 1:44 PM
@nhoj3 -

I’m not presenting half facts. Nothing he said prior justifies him calling our veterans “stupid bastards”

You really are reaching to justify Joe Biden which is sad considering his most RECENT comments where he says he came to Nashville for the ice cream and then randomly tells some kids in the audience to stand up and people to clap for them and then starts reading his pre written monoglogue about a tragic mass shooting.

How do you want to spin that one?

It’s just bizarre heartless dementia nonsense
HulkisHoly
HulkisHoly - 4/6/2023, 1:57 PM
@SATW42 -

As far the story goes, trump invited Kanye who’s a big fan and wanted business advice and Kanye (who is very confused) brought Nick fuentas to trumps house and trump didn’t know he was coming.

Personally I’ve never heard of Nick fuentas in my life and with Kanye’s weird behavior and anti dementia remarks, I think it’s more believable that he invited him without telling trump because he’s Ye’s FRIEND, not trumps.

Secondly, trump had a great relationship with Netahau and a Jewish community made special Jewish coins with trumps face on it to honor him for moving the US embassy to Jerusalem out of religious respect to the Jewish people.

So no, it seems like the Israeli government and even lots of people there liked and respected Trump. His actions spoke louder than his words which seem to be all people in the mainstream media had against him.

Think about it…

-We already now know without a shadow of doubt that Hillary paid for a fake Russian dossier and the mainstream news NEVER questioned but actually PUSHED the Russian collusion story even though Trump was telling the truth that it was all a lie.
-Evidence came out that Twitter employees blocked any story about Hunter Biden’s laptop right before voting “saying it was fake news” but that story was actually TRUE.

And you wonder why Trump gets mad when he runs.

Whether you love him or hate him, there is no denying that there are very powerful people that don’t like him and what he was doing in the White House.
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 4/6/2023, 2:08 PM
@SATW42 - No they aren't. Corporation is a business or entity for money. The people in it can do or believe whatever they want but the company must stand neutral. If the company decides to fire them because they are being disruptive then its justified too. Its business 101 especially in the entertainment industry that the number 1 rule to max money is to avoid "politics and religious" subjects.
Tonic24k
Tonic24k - 4/6/2023, 2:11 PM
@Matchesz - "The masses are seriously and helplessly brainwashed to hate Trump. People hate him so much like he personally spat in their cereal."

This is so backwards. The only ones brainwashed are his followers. Look at all these hillbillies that worship him without realizing he doesn't give a fvck about them other than their vote. He simply tells them what they want to hear and they flock.

The people that dislike him have reason in the world.
Tonic24k
Tonic24k - 4/6/2023, 2:15 PM
@HulkisHoly - "This is where I’m confused. I’m not sure what actual things trump has done…but Biden I see clear evidence for…"

That is some selective ass hearing then. Trump has an entire library of egregious actions and statements. I mean, have you already forgotten him trying to pull the voter fraud sham? Paying off Stormy Daniels as hush money? The list is long af.
HulkisHoly
HulkisHoly - 4/6/2023, 3:02 PM
@Tonic24k -

The stormy daniels thing could be true or it could not be true like the Russia collusion or them blaming him for Jan 6th or any other thing they constantly try to get him for. I don’t know yet 🤷‍♂️

Have you actually looked into voter fraud problems or did you think it was normal for 100,000s of votes being found at 4AM all for Biden?

Before you just spout CNN taking points, I’d actually research actual issues the US has with other fraud. Possibly not enough to sway the result of the election but definitely enough to upset citizens’ trust in fair elections.

Again, I don’t defend everything trump has said or done and he’s not my top pick right now BUT I’m not going to accuse him of things he didn’t do, that’s just being biased. I don’t want to unfairly believe things without evidence or just because I’m being told to by the US media.
SATW42
SATW42 - 4/6/2023, 3:13 PM
@mastakilla39 - You just don't know the law then. And that's fine, But in the U.S., Corporations are largely considered "people" just look up "Corporate Personhood" I'm not here to give you a history lesson you may or may not want.
SATW42
SATW42 - 4/6/2023, 3:17 PM
@HulkisHoly - bit of goalpost moving, no? You said he never met with with supremacists, and that you hadn't heard that. I gave you an example and you say "well he doesn't count, that was Kanye's fault"

You realize that was one of the few instances where literally no one defended him. His biggest defenders said there was absolutely no reason for him to be meeting with him. His advisors told him to distance himself from him immediately and Trump said no because he thought his base would get mad at him.

He. Thought. His. BASE. Would. Get. Mad. At. Him. For. Denouncing. A. White. Supremacist.
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 4/6/2023, 3:25 PM
@SATW42 - Your joking right? Guess you don't know the definition of corporation or how to manage a business. If you want to use your own version of corporation to support your own agenda then thats fine too.
HulkisHoly
HulkisHoly - 4/6/2023, 3:37 PM
@SATW42 -

“Trump said no because he thought his base would get mad at him.

He. Thought. His. BASE. Would. Get. Mad. At. Him. For. Denouncing. A. White. Supremacist.“

Where did trump say this? His official response was that he didn’t even know who cuentas was until after he showed up. That’s what trump said on Truth social after the meeting.

Perhaps he was referring to meeting with Ye?

Regardless of Trumps mistakes, I still don’t get how people can justify voting or supporting Biden or Kamala, and the mass atrocities they have committed, not words but ACTIONS they’ve done.

Seems like just pure bias in my view. If they’re dems and the media supports them then their laundering and warmongering is okay. But trump (whose been dem his whole life) runs Republican and the media loses their minds.

Also, don’t you find it odd that all the mainstream media said trump would get the US back into war BUT he’s the first president to ever get North Korea to peacefully meet with South Korea in 50 years!? And the US wasn’t involved in any war at all, BUT as soon as Biden is in office Russia attacks Ukraine and war is happening again?
nhoj3
nhoj3 - 4/6/2023, 4:07 PM
@HulkisHoly - You need to get out of your Fox News bubble.

https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-bidens-gaffe-about-ice-cream-and-nashville/a-65159845

"Several social media users shared a short video clip by the conservative US network Fox News as alleged proof that Biden did not address the tragedy appropriately. In the clip, Biden starts speaking in front of an audience, while the aston reads "Biden addresses deadly Nashville school shooting." But his remarks are markedly lighthearted.

But most of the posts omit the context of Biden's remarks. His speech was not intended to address the shooting, but was held for a very different event.

"...the president was actually speaking at the Small Business Administration's Women's Business Summit hosted at the White House. Right before Biden started his remarks, the full footage of the event shows President Biden was cheerfully introduced to an audience of women business leaders. Hence, Biden's opening remarks were equally buoyant."

So Fox News takes an unrelated speech, slaps the headline of "Biden addresses deadly Nashville school shooting." and creates a fake controversy. If you don't like being lied to, stop watching Fox News.
SATW42
SATW42 - 4/6/2023, 4:57 PM
@mastakilla39 - YOU keep referring to me the dictionary definition of a corporation. The United States LEGALLY defines a corporation differently.

In more recent history you had the 2010 Decision by the Supreme Court, Citizens United v. FEC. Changed over a century worth of legal understanding of what a corporation was and allowed CORPORATIONS not individuals, to donate to campaigns. Now, you are arguing that companies should be neutral. WELL NOT ACCORDING THE UNITED STATES LAW AND THE SUPREME COURT THAT SAYS THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO CANDIDATES ELECTION CAMPAIGNS BECAUSE THEY ARE "PEOPLE" under "WE THE PEOPLE"

Don't like it, go back in time to 2010 and tell the supreme court that.
SATW42
SATW42 - 4/6/2023, 5:02 PM
@mastakilla39 - The best part is, you can't blame this one on the "libs"

This was a republican tentpole for years in the 2010s. Mitt Romney basically ran his campaign on "corporations are people too" when he ran for president in 2012.
HeraldNumber7
HeraldNumber7 - 4/6/2023, 6:32 PM
@nhoj3 -

like i said: unserious & uncurious. there's 2 decades worth of news media covering their failures - use Google. lying the country into an offensive war against a non-hostile nation, raiding the treasury for said quagmire to pay their cronies, and using the 911 tragedy to ram thru the Patriot Act is just the top of the iceberg.

Trump is an asshole but he only used tools that were already crafted for his disposal. his problem is he puts an ugly face on the decrepit body we pass off as a "government".
McMurdo
McMurdo - 4/6/2023, 6:33 PM
@Rmcbride7349 - liked how you made sure to insert "regular" in regards to meetings with white supremacists considering Ole Joe's antics. Probably not the best metric to use considering our current presidents past....
mpk1988
mpk1988 - 4/7/2023, 12:13 AM
@nhoj3 - because all this was just great before and after... This level naivety and stupidity coming from Americans should not be surprising I guess.

Tonic24k
Tonic24k - 4/7/2023, 10:52 AM
@HulkisHoly - The voter fraud situation was completely unfounded. Period. It was already proven nonsense. They did recounts twice over in multiple States. There is no good reason to continue doubting anything. Not to mention, you have to suspend disbelief pretty hard to not see what's going on with the Stormy Daniels situation.

Also, these aren't CNN talking points. This is just facts. I don't follow Fox or CNN.

So again, Trump is a doofus. He's not the man for the job whether he's democratic or republican. His speeches are cringe. He lies. He cheats. And in the business world he's considered crooked.

mountainman
mountainman - 4/6/2023, 8:41 AM
The bottom line vs box office comment is interesting. It’s not all about revenues if costs are high. Ant Man 3 could have been profitable if they wouldn’t have spent so much making it. It seems like the budgets have to be really high for every production because they think every movie is going to make over $700 million.
SATW42
SATW42 - 4/6/2023, 9:00 AM
@mountainman - it's not just stuff like this though. Dude didn't want to spend money. Remember, he was essentially booted out of Marvel Studios around Civil War, because he thought they were spending too much money. Disney had enough.

I'll try to use a non controversial take as an example. Most people here tend to agree that Black Widow should have had a solo movie before phase 4, right? I think that's safe to say? Well he was 100 percent the reason we didn't get one until we did. There are other examples but they tend to be more "controversial" and will distract from the point.
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